Compare towns
Sprague vs Middlefield vs Brooklyn vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Sprague | Middlefield | Brooklyn | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
4,243 |
8,517Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Middlefield and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest 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+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Middlefield 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Regional School District 13 | Brooklyn School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.