Compare towns
Thompson vs Mansfield vs Brooklyn vs Griswold
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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Brooklyn | Griswold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
25,358Highest |
8,517Lowest |
11,530 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
48.1±3.9 17% above CT |
| 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%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Griswold 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$78,719±$11k 18% below CT |
| 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 20% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
| Mansfield 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 32% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$4,628 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 min 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #118 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Brooklyn School District | Griswold School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | Griswold High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— | 11.5 |
| 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.