Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Columbia vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Columbia | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
5,300Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Highest 24% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Columbia School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.