Compare towns
Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Putnam 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).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Putnam | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
12,579 |
9,292 |
8,517Lowest |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Windsor Locks 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$4,538Highest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 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 |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10%±4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Putnam School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
— |
| 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.