Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Putnam vs Stoneham

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 most homeowners (81.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

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.

MeasureBrooklynPutnamStoneham
People
Population
8,517Lowest
9,292
23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Putnam 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%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham and Putnam 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%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Stoneham 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
19% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
Stoneham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stoneham and Brooklyn 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%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #117 of 282 in MA
School district Brooklyn School District Putnam School District Stoneham
High school in town None in town Putnam High School Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5Lowest
10.7Highest
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.