Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Suffield vs Willimantic vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Stafford has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Willimantic | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
11,511 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
| Stafford 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Stafford 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Suffield 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$93,235±$16k about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$263,800±$22k 28% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,086±$85 27% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,131 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Stafford 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Suffield School District | — | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | — | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.