Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Putnam vs Stepney vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).
Stafford has the most people working from home (11%).
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 | Putnam | Stepney | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517 |
9,292 |
3,979Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
46.7±4.8 14% above CT |
| Stepney 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford and Stepney 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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 about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District | — | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | — | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| 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.