Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Exeter vs Putnam vs Griswold
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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Exeter | Putnam | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
7,195Lowest |
9,292 |
11,530Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Griswold and Brooklyn 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Exeter 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% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Exeter 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% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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 5% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Griswold 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #14 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Putnam School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.