Compare towns
Plainfield vs Sandy Hook vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sandy Hook | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
9,863 |
8,517Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Brooklyn and Putnam 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% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook 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±$8k 20% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | — | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | — | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.