Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Stoneham vs Thompson

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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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.

MeasureBrooklynStonehamThompson
People
Population
8,517Lowest
23,355Highest
9,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
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%
20.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Stoneham 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%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
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.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% 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.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Stoneham 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT #117 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Stoneham Thompson School District
High school in town None in town Stoneham High Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Highest
7.9Lowest
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.