Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Colebrook vs Willimantic vs Stafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% 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.

MeasureBrooklynColebrookWillimanticStafford
People
Population
8,517
1,494Lowest
18,096Highest
11,511
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
52.1±5Highest
27% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
46.7±4.8
14% above CT
Colebrook and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
21.5%±3.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
Stafford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
26%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
22%±3
CT: 18.5%
Colebrook and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$93,235±$16k
about the CT average
Colebrook and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
$342,800±$19kHighest
7% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$263,800±$22k
28% below CT
Colebrook and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$1,333±$626Highest
10% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,086±$85
27% below CT
Colebrook and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Lowest
32% below CT
$6,211Highest
7% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
$5,131
23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
41.5%±12.2
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and Colebrook 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%
8.3%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
7.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
79.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1960
7 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
34 minHighest
29% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
26 min
about the CT average
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
7%±3.8
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
11%±3.5Highest
CT: 16%
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 — — #96 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Colebrook School District — Stafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town — Stafford High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.