Compare towns
Thompson vs Needham vs Brooklyn vs Columbia
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 affordable homes ($292k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Brooklyn | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
32,459Highest |
8,517 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Columbia 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Thompson 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Needham | Brooklyn School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.