Compare towns
Plainfield vs Smithfield vs Brooklyn vs Sterling
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 renters (26.4% rent).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Smithfield | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
22,233Highest |
8,517 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Brooklyn and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Plainfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #113 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Smithfield | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Smithfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.