Compare towns

Plainfield vs Hamden 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hamden has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldHamdenBrooklyn
People
Population
15,141
61,045Highest
8,517Lowest
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
38.7±0.9
6% below CT
45.6±2.5Highest
11% above CT
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
17%±1.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
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+
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.1%±1.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
Hamden 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%
47.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
15%±1.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
$98,306±$7kHighest
about the CT average
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
Hamden 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
$298,200±$9k
19% below CT
$315,200±$28kHighest
14% below CT
Brooklyn and Hamden 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
$1,746±$50Highest
17% above CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
$7,784Highest
17% above CT
$4,538
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
50.9%±5.4Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Hamden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
CT: 10%
9.3%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
62.4%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
22 minLowest
18% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
16.3%±2.1Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
Hamden and Brooklyn 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 #122 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services Brooklyn School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Hamden High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
13.5Highest
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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.