Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Topsfield vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Topsfield | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517 |
6,564Lowest |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Stafford 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% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Stafford 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% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Topsfield 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. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsfield and Stafford 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Topsfield | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.