Compare towns
Durham vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Middlebury
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 most people working from home (20.5%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
8,517 |
15,141Highest |
7,807 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| 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% |
22%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Middlebury 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%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlebury and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Middlebury and Plainfield 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 |
$133,487±$26k 39% above CT |
| Durham and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
| Plainfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Plainfield 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%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% 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 |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Middlebury 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 | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 15 |
| 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.