Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Athol vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the most expensive homes ($315k median).
Athol has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Stafford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Brooklyn | Athol | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
12,011Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Stafford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Athol and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 45% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Stafford 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stafford and Brooklyn 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Athol-Royalston | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.