Compare towns
Thompson vs Baltic vs Brooklyn vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Thompson | Baltic | Brooklyn | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
1,157Lowest |
8,517 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Thompson and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.5%±10.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,247±$141Highest 16% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Baltic and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 42% below CT |
$3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | — | Brooklyn School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.