Compare towns

Putnam vs Brookfield vs Brooklyn vs Griswold

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).

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.

MeasurePutnamBrookfieldBrooklynGriswold
People
Population
9,292
17,706Highest
8,517Lowest
11,530
Median age
43.7±3Lowest
6% above CT
44.3±1.8
8% above CT
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
Griswold and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
22.7%±3Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Brookfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
18.8%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.8%±3.5
CT: 18.5%
Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%
CT: 42.5%
58.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
4.3%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7Highest
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Brooklyn and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$148,360±$11kHighest
55% above CT
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$479,700±$24kHighest
31% above CT
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$275,900±$42k
25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,892±$183Highest
27% above CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$7,594Highest
14% above CT
$4,538
32% below CT
$4,628
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
35.9%±13.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
4.1%
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
7.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
73.3%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1977
10 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
28 min
6% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
31 minHighest
17% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
16.3%±3Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
Brookfield and Brooklyn 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 #128 of 149 in CT #67 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Brookfield School District Brooklyn School District Griswold School District
High school in town Putnam High School Brookfield High School None in town Griswold High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
12.7Highest
—
11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.