Compare towns
Hamden vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hamden | Brooklyn | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
8,517Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hamden and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Hamden and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden and Brooklyn 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.