What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).

Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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	Sterling
People
Population	8,517Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±2.5Lowest 17% above U.S.	51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brooklyn and Sterling 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%	22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sterling 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	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±$15kLowest 19% above U.S.	$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S.
	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±$28kLowest 5% below U.S.	$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S.	$6,757Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sterling 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%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Brooklyn School District	Wachusett
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.