Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Orange vs Thompson vs Danielson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).

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.

MeasureBrooklynOrangeThompsonDanielson
People
Population
8,517
14,315Highest
9,337
4,209Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
—
+2.6%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
45.6±2.4
11% above CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
34.5±3.6Lowest
16% below CT
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±6.1
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
23%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
13.6%±4.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
21.9%
CT: 42.5%
11.5%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
9.2%±6.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
Danielson and Orange 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
about the CT average
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
$93,629±$18k
about the CT average
$64,050±$15kLowest
33% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$291,900±$24k
20% below CT
$224,600±$13kLowest
39% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,012±$344Lowest
32% below CT
$1,235±$194
17% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
32% below CT
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
$4,009
40% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7
CT: 52.6%
44.7%±17.1
CT: 52.6%
Orange 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
CT: 10%
3.9%
CT: 10%
5.9%
CT: 10%
21.1%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
84.3%
CT: 66.5%
53%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1963
4 yrs older than CT
1951Lowest
16 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the CT average
28 min
4% above CT
32 minHighest
20% above CT
28 min
7% above CT
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4
CT: 16%
6.6%±5.3Lowest
CT: 16%
Orange 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 #38 of 149 in CT #130 of 149 in CT —
School district Brooklyn School District — Thompson School District —
High school 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 None yet

CT 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.