Compare towns

Putnam vs Smithfield 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

Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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.

MeasurePutnamSmithfieldBrooklynPutnam
People
Population
9,292
22,233Highest
8,517
7,120Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
41.2±5.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3
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+
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Smithfield 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
$102,077±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Smithfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
19% below U.S.
$446,400±$12kHighest
34% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$5,207Highest
67% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
9%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI #113 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Smithfield Brooklyn School District —
High school in town Putnam High School Smithfield High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.8Highest
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.