Compare towns
Stafford vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Brooklyn has the most expensive homes ($315k 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 | Stafford | Sterling | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,511Highest |
3,629Lowest |
8,517 |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8Highest 14% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% 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 | 21.5%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Stafford and Brooklyn 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $93,235±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
| Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85Lowest 27% below CT |
— | $1,125±$98Highest 24% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Stafford 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Stafford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Sterling 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.