Compare towns
Plainfield vs Deep River vs Sterling vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Deep River has the most people working from home (15.2%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Deep River | Sterling | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
4,458 |
3,629Lowest |
8,517 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±5.6Highest 12% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
| Deep River and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Deep River 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 CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Sterling and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$362,200±$26kHighest about the CT average |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Deep River and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,221±$185Highest 18% below CT |
— | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Deep River and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River 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 CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
69.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Deep River and Sterling 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Sterling School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.