Compare towns

Norwich 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

Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Brooklyn has the highest household income ($96k).
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.

MeasureNorwichBrooklynPlainfield
People
Population
39,973Highest
8,517Lowest
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
38.5±1.7
6% below CT
45.6±2.5Highest
11% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Kids under 18
20.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Norwich and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Brooklyn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.1%
CT: 42.5%
23.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,024±$5kLowest
32% below CT
$96,207±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$76,993±$8k
20% below CT
Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$11kLowest
34% below CT
$315,200±$28kHighest
14% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,253±$68Highest
16% below CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,703Highest
29% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.2%±7.2Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
10 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
7.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4
CT: 16%
Brooklyn and Plainfield 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 #133 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District Brooklyn School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Norwich Free Academy None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
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.