Compare towns
Plainfield vs Monroe vs Brooklyn vs Sterling
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 renters (26.4% rent).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k median).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Monroe | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
18,949Highest |
8,517 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Sterling 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% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield 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% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
— |
| 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 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Monroe 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% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 min 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Monroe School District | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Masuk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.