Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Sterling vs Union
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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517Highest |
3,629 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Union 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 |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
| 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±$28k 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
| Union and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer 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%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District | Union 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 |
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.