Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Hamden vs Windsor Locks vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the most expensive homes ($315k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Hamden | Windsor Locks | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
61,045Highest |
12,579 |
11,511 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| 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%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 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%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Windsor Locks 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Hamden 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±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Hamden 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 |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Windsor Locks School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Windsor Locks High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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.