Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Thompson vs Townsend

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).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).

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.

MeasureBrooklynThompsonTownsend
People
Population
8,517Lowest
9,337Highest
9,100
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Brooklyn 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%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Townsend 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.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Townsend 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.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
Townsend and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Townsend 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%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 min
20% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Brooklyn 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 #130 of 149 in CT #136 of 282 in MA
School district Brooklyn School District Thompson School District North Middlesex
High school in town None in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.9Lowest
13.1Highest
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.