Compare towns
Plainville vs Willimantic vs Brooklyn vs New Britain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Brooklyn has the most expensive homes ($315k median).
New Britain has the most kids (22% 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 | Plainville | Willimantic | Brooklyn | New Britain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
18,096 |
8,517Lowest |
74,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +1.3%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
34.3±1.2 17% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Britain and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
14.6%±1.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
9.4%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$58,613±$2k 39% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$223,600±$6k 39% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,253±$45Highest 16% below CT |
| New Britain and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,846Highest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.2%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
18.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
45.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 min 19% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
8%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #149 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | — | None in town | New Britain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.