Compare towns
Plainfield vs Preston vs Thompson vs Brooklyn
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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Preston | Thompson | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,337 |
8,517 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
| Thompson and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Preston 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% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Preston 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 26% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
| Preston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Preston 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% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Preston School District | Thompson School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.