Compare towns
Plainfield vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Orange | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
14,315 |
8,517 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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 CT: 42.5% |
59.4%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% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% 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% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older 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 |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.