Compare towns

Plainfield vs Providence 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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Brooklyn has the highest household income ($96k).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldProvidenceBrooklyn
People
Population
15,141
191,767Highest
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5
5% below U.S.
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±1
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Providence 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%
11.6%±0.7Lowest
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%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8k
5% below U.S.
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
$96,207±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Plainfield 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.
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$4,538Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Providence and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 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
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence 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 #36 of 38 in RI #113 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Brooklyn School District
High school in town Plainfield High School Classical High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
17.2Highest
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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.