Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Killingly vs Shirley 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 homeowners (81.7%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Shirley has the most people working from home (21%).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Killingly | Shirley | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
17,867Highest |
6,976Lowest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4 14% 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%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford and Shirley 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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 5% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,156Highest 65% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Killingly 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.