Compare towns

Washington vs Brooklyn vs Plainfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureWashingtonBrooklynPlainfield
People
Population
3,676Lowest
8,517
15,141Highest
Median age
49.9±5.5Highest
21% above CT
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Washington and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4.7Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
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+
26.9%±5.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Washington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,549±$16kHighest
6% above CT
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Washington and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$660,200±$130kHighest
80% above CT
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$264Highest
19% below CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
$1,204±$70Highest
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,709Highest
29% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±24Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Plainfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
CT: 66.5%
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1971Lowest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
4% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
20.1%±9Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Washington 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 #17 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 12 Brooklyn School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Shepaug Valley School None in town Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.1Lowest
—
10.3Highest
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.