Compare towns
Princeton vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Princeton | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,529Lowest |
8,517 |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.1±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Princeton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Princeton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,750±$46kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,633Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.5%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #59 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wachusett | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.