Compare towns

Thompson vs Stoneham 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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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.

MeasureThompsonStonehamBrooklyn
People
Population
9,337
23,355Highest
8,517Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
45.6±2.5
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Brooklyn 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%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Stoneham 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%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Stoneham 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.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% above U.S.
Stoneham 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.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Stoneham 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
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 #117 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Thompson School District Stoneham Brooklyn School District
High school in town Tourtellotte Memorial High School Stoneham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.9Lowest
10.7Highest
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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.