Compare towns

Preston vs Putnam vs Brooklyn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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.

MeasurePrestonPutnamBrooklyn
People
Population
4,821Lowest
7,120
8,517Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
46.2±7Highest
12% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
Preston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±4.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23%±4.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
Preston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
Brooklyn and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,648±$27kHighest
22% above CT
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
Preston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,900±$13kHighest
about the CT average
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,433±$1kHighest
4% below CT
$1,147±$43
23% below CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
Preston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,749Highest
29% below CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±12.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
Preston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below CT
25 min
5% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4Highest
CT: 16%
Brooklyn and Preston 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 #93 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT
School district Preston School District — Brooklyn School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

CT 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.