Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Orange vs Thompson vs Griswold
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).
Griswold has the most renters (26.7% 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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Orange | Thompson | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
14,315Highest |
9,337 |
11,530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 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%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 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% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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 about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,628 30% 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% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Griswold 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% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest 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 | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | — | Thompson School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.