Compare towns

Plainfield vs North Smithfield 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 youngest population (median age 37).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% 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.

MeasurePlainfieldNorth SmithfieldBrooklyn
People
Population
15,141Highest
12,708
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.5±3.9
17% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Brooklyn and North Smithfield 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%
19.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
North Smithfield 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%
33.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
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.
$108,866±$12kHighest
35% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
North Smithfield 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.
$457,200±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,282±$531Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
North Smithfield and Plainfield 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.
$5,219Highest
67% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
North Smithfield 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 #13 of 38 in RI #113 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District North Smithfield Brooklyn School District
High school in town Plainfield High School North Smitfield HS None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
12.1Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.