Compare towns
Plainfield vs Holbrook vs Brooklyn vs Sterling
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 most renters (26.4% rent).
Holbrook has the most expensive homes ($465k median).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Holbrook | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
11,380 |
8,517 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Brooklyn and Holbrook 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% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holbrook 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% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$115,210±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holbrook 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Holbrook 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Holbrook | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.