Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
1,943Lowest |
8,517 |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brooklyn 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Putnam 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.