Compare towns
Townsend vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Townsend | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
8,517Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brooklyn and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.