Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Gardner 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 highest household income ($96k).
Gardner has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Gardner | Putnam | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
21,148Highest |
9,292 |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Brooklyn and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42k 17% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Putnam 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. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,628Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Gardner 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% |
13.7%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% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 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 |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Gardner | Putnam School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Putnam High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.