Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k 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.

MeasureBrooklynExeterThompson
People
Population
8,517
7,195Lowest
9,337Highest
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.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
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%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson 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%
21.9%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%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
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.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
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.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,317±$307Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Exeter and Brooklyn 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.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Thompson 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%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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 #14 of 38 in RI #130 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Exeter-West Greenwich 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 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.