Compare towns
Plainfield vs Norwalk 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 youngest population (median age 37).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Norwalk | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
92,187Highest |
8,517 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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 CT: 18.5% |
17%±1 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brooklyn and Norwalk 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% |
44.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield 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 |
$107,616±$7kHighest 12% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Norwalk and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,073±$87Highest 39% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,817Highest 18% 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% |
52.1%±5.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwalk and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
9.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
55.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as 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 |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Norwalk School District | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Brien McMahon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.