Compare towns
Thompson vs Northampton 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).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
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.
| Measure | Thompson | Northampton | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337 |
30,962Highest |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Northampton 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% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Northampton 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$429,700±$17kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,439±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,680Highest 82% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton 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% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4Highest 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Northampton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.