Compare towns

Plainfield vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldNorthbridgeBrooklyn
People
Population
15,141
16,458Highest
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Northbridge 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%
21.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Northbridge and Brooklyn 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%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±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.
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
Northbridge 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.
$448,600±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
Northbridge 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.
$4,821Highest
55% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge 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%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 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
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Northbridge 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 #226 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District Northbridge Brooklyn School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Northbridge High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
10.8Highest
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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.