Compare towns
Sterling vs Brooklyn vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Brooklyn has the most expensive homes ($315k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sterling | Brooklyn | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
8,517 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% 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 | — | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44Highest 23% below CT |
| Putnam and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Brooklyn and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Brooklyn School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.