Compare towns

Thompson vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.

MeasureThompsonLancasterBrooklyn
People
Population
9,337Highest
8,606
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brooklyn and Lancaster 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%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
Lancaster 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±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #130 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Nashoba Brooklyn 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

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.