Compare towns

Plainfield vs Killingly vs Ayer 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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.

MeasurePlainfieldKillinglyAyerBrooklyn
People
Population
15,141
17,867Highest
8,645
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+14.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.2±2.8
about the U.S. average
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Ayer 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%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly 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%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Killingly 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.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$101,875±$15kHighest
26% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
Ayer 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
18% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$463,800±$29kHighest
39% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,415±$180Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
Ayer and Plainfield 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,057Highest
62% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±14.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ayer and Killingly 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 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
28 min
6% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±5.9Highest
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 #136 of 149 in CT #113 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ayer Shirley School District Brooklyn School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Killingly High School Ayer Shirley Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
11.1
11.5Highest
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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.