Compare towns
Plainfield vs Athol 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
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Brooklyn has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Plainfield | Athol | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
12,011 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athol and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,538Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brooklyn and Athol 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Athol-Royalston | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.