Compare towns
Westminster vs Thompson 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
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Brooklyn has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Westminster | Thompson | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,374Lowest |
9,337Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,331±$22kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Westminster 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Thompson School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.