Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Dedham vs Putnam

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 homeowners (81.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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.

MeasureBrooklynDedhamPutnam
People
Population
8,517Lowest
25,237Highest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Putnam 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%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham 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±$15k
19% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham 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
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT #119 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Dedham Putnam School District
High school in town None in town Dedham High Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
9.5Lowest
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.