Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Thomaston vs Putnam 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 most people working from home (10.7%).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Thomaston | Putnam | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
7,492Lowest |
9,292 |
11,530Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
| Griswold and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Thomaston 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% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| Thomaston 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±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$275,900±$42k 25% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,177±$65Highest 21% below CT |
| Griswold and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Thomaston School District | Putnam School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Putnam High School | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
9.5Lowest |
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.