Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Putnam vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
9,292 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Sturbridge 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Putnam 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Brooklyn 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.