Compare towns

Pomfret vs Needham vs Brooklyn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k 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.

MeasurePomfretNeedhamBrooklyn
People
Population
4,317Lowest
32,459Highest
8,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.9±3.7Highest
18% above U.S.
43.1±1.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
Pomfret and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.1%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Needham and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pomfret and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
50.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pomfret and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,476±$8k
34% above U.S.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$409,100±$28k
23% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,210±$300
14% below U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,903
89% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pomfret and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.2%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 149 in CT #19 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Pomfret School District Needham Brooklyn School District
High school in town None in town Needham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.9
—
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.