Compare towns

Putnam vs Dedham 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

Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).

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.

MeasurePutnamDedhamBrooklyn
People
Population
7,120Lowest
25,237Highest
8,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.2±5.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #128 of 149 in CT #119 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district — Dedham Brooklyn School District
High school in town — Dedham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
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.