Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Topsfield vs Griswold
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).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Topsfield | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
6,564Lowest |
11,530Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Griswold 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% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Topsfield 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. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Topsfield 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Topsfield | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.