Compare towns
Plainfield vs Vernon vs Willimantic vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Vernon | Willimantic | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141 |
30,577Highest |
18,096 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37±4.5 10% below CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Vernon 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% |
38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Vernon School District | — | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Rockville High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.