Compare towns
Thompson vs Johnston 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
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Johnston | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
29,835Highest |
8,517Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 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+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Johnston 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% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston 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 16% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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. |
$355,500±$13kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Brooklyn 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. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Putnam 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. |
$4,614Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #32 of 38 in RI | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Johnston | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Johnston Senior High | 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 |
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.