What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brooklyn	Petersham
People
Population	8,517Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±2.5Lowest 17% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brooklyn and Petersham 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.	$110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Petersham 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±$28kLowest 5% below U.S.	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S.	$4,636Highest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brooklyn and Petersham 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%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersham 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	—
School district	Brooklyn School District	Petersham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.