Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Needham 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

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.

MeasureBrooklynNeedhamGriswold
People
Population
8,517Lowest
32,459Highest
11,530
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% 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%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Griswold and Needham 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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$78,719±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,628
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold and Needham 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #118 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Needham Griswold School District
High school in town None in town Needham High Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9Highest
11.5Lowest
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.