Compare towns

Thompson vs Johnston vs Putnam 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 most people working from home (13.1%).
Johnston has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureThompsonJohnstonPutnamBrooklyn
People
Population
9,337
29,835Highest
9,292
8,517Lowest
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.
43.7±3Lowest
12% above U.S.
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
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%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
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%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
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%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
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.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$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.
$355,500±$13kHighest
7% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% 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.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% 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.
$3,860
24% above U.S.
$4,538
45% 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%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
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%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
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 #128 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Johnston Putnam School District Brooklyn School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Johnston Senior High Putnam High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
10.3Highest
9.5
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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.