Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Sterling vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Sterling | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
3,629Lowest |
9,337Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$15k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Sterling 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±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Highest 24% below CT |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538 32% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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 CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.