Compare towns
Lowell vs Plainfield vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Lowell | Plainfield | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368Highest |
15,141 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,538Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brooklyn and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lowell | Plainfield School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.