Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Cranston vs Thompson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Cranston has the most expensive homes ($378k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

MeasureBrooklynCranstonThompson
People
Population
8,517Lowest
83,250Highest
9,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
39.6±0.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cranston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15kHighest
19% above U.S.
$90,206±$4kLowest
12% above U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$378,300±$7kHighest
14% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,375±$59Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$5,103Highest
64% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±6
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±1.2
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Cranston 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 #27 of 38 in RI #130 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston Thompson School District
High school in town None in town Cranston High School West Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.4Highest
7.9Lowest
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.