Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Orange vs Thompson
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 most renters (18.3% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Orange | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
14,315Highest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above 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% |
| 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% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% 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% |
| 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%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.