Compare towns
Sterling vs Gardner vs Chaplin vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Brooklyn has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Gardner | Chaplin | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
21,148Highest |
2,070Lowest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Brooklyn 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 27% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98 20% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Gardner | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.