What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookfield	Sterling
People
Population	3,460Lowest	3,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S.	39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average	$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Sterling and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average	$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,014±$161 28% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,092Highest 63% above U.S.	$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	12%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookfield 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	#109 of 282 in MA	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Brookfield	Sterling School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.