Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Needham 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
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Putnam | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,292 |
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. |
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%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Griswold 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% |
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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% 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. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older 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 |
28 min 5% 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% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Needham | Putnam School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Putnam High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.