Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Thompson vs Worcester
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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
9,337 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Thompson 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. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Thompson 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Thompson School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.