Compare towns
Middletown vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Vernon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
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 | Middletown | Brooklyn | Plainfield | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
8,517Lowest |
15,141 |
30,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 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+ | 16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
| Middletown and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412Highest 3% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,804 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Middletown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Vernon 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Brooklyn School District | Plainfield School District | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.