Compare towns

Redding vs Brookfield vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Brookfield has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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.

MeasureReddingBrookfieldPlainfield
People
Population
8,780Lowest
17,706Highest
15,141
Median age
52±2Highest
27% above CT
44.3±1.8
8% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Kids under 18
19.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.7%±3Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.8%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
58.3%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.3%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$148,360±$11k
55% above CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$479,700±$24k
31% above CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,101±$304Highest
41% above CT
$1,892±$183
27% above CT
$1,204±$70Lowest
19% below CT
Redding and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$7,594
14% above CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
35.9%±13.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
CT: 10%
4.1%
CT: 10%
8.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
86.5%
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above CT
28 min
6% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
16.3%±3
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 149 in CT #67 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Brookfield School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Joel Barlow High School Brookfield High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
12.7Highest
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.