Compare towns
Stafford vs Preston vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Brooklyn has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Stafford | Preston | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Highest |
4,821Lowest |
8,517 |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
| Stafford and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 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+ | 22%±3 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Preston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,800±$22kLowest 28% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
| Preston and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,131Highest 23% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Preston School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.