Compare towns

Killingly vs Meriden 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

Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureKillinglyMeridenBrooklynPlainfield
People
Population
17,867
60,545Highest
8,517Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
0%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
38.9±1.3
5% below CT
45.6±2.5Highest
11% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
21.9%±1.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Meriden and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±1.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
22.2%
CT: 42.5%
23.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±0.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$71,253±$4kLowest
26% below CT
$96,207±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
Brooklyn and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$241,200±$7kLowest
34% below CT
$315,200±$28kHighest
14% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
Brooklyn and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,294±$72Highest
13% below CT
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Meriden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,129Highest
23% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±4.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Meriden and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
CT: 10%
13.2%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
60.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above CT
23 minLowest
13% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Highest
CT: 16%
8.6%±1.6Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #124 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District Brooklyn School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School Francis T. Maloney High School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
16.2Highest
—
10.3Lowest
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.