Compare towns
Ellington vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Ellington | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,455Highest |
8,517Lowest |
15,141 |
14,606 |
| Median age | 40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ellington and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.4% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,913±$17k 36% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$133,264±$16kHighest 39% above CT |
| Tolland and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| Ellington and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Ellington and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,751 about the CT average |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ellington School District | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Ellington High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.