Compare towns
Durham vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Durham | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
8,517 |
15,141Highest |
6,130Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brooklyn and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$142,105±$35k 48% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Durham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,333±$438Highest 10% below CT |
| Marlborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,397 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #88 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.