Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Thompson vs Wilbraham
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 renters (18.3% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Wilbraham has the most expensive homes ($416k 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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Thompson | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
9,337 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Wilbraham 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% |
51.9%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% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Wilbraham 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. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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. |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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. |
$6,658Highest 113% 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% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Wilbraham 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Thompson School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.

