Compare towns
Thompson vs Williston 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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Williston | Brooklyn | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
10,144Highest |
8,517 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklyn and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 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% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Brooklyn 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Williston 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% |
4.3% 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% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Columbia 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #113 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Brooklyn School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.