Compare towns
Thompson vs Suffield vs Willimantic vs Brooklyn
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Suffield | Willimantic | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
8,517Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Suffield 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Suffield 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±$24k 20% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Suffield School District | — | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.