Compare towns

Plainfield vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldDedhamBrooklyn
People
Population
15,141
25,237Highest
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Plainfield 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%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham 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%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 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
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #131 of 149 in CT #119 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Dedham Brooklyn School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Dedham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
10.4Highest
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On TownTapestry
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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.