Compare towns
Plainfield vs Brookline vs Brookfield
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 youngest population (median age 34.5).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Brookline | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016 |
531Lowest |
2,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$981±$75 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,197 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.