Compare towns
Bethany vs Brooklyn vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Bethany | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
8,517Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brooklyn and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Brooklyn and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Bethany and Sterling 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.