Compare towns
Thompson vs Gardner vs Griswold 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
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Gardner | Griswold | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
21,148Highest |
11,530 |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.1±3.9 24% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Gardner 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 16% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
| Griswold and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$4,628Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Gardner | Griswold School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Gardner High | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.5 |
— |
| 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.