Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Lancaster vs Sterling
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.
| Measure | Brooklyn | Lancaster | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
8,606Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brooklyn and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Brooklyn 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Nashoba | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.