Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Topsfield vs Killingly vs Canterbury

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 expensive homes ($853k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.4).

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.

MeasureBrooklynTopsfieldKillinglyCanterbury
People
Population
8,517
6,564
17,867Highest
5,124Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
42.2±1.8
8% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.4±4.5Highest
24% above U.S.
Canterbury 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%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
15%±3.5Lowest
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%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Canterbury and Topsfield 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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$195,718±$16kHighest
142% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$103,198±$6k
28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$853,400±$40kHighest
157% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$334,200±$12k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98Highest
20% below U.S.
$1,115±$538
21% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$924±$367Lowest
35% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Topsfield 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,140
33% 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%
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±13
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
4% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 149 in CT #172 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #125 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Topsfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Canterbury School District
High school in town None in town None in town Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.