Compare towns
Thompson vs Ellington vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
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).
Ellington has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Thompson | Ellington | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
16,455Highest |
8,517Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Ellington 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% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington and Brooklyn 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 |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Ellington School District | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ellington High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— | 9.5 |
| 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.