Compare towns
Sterling vs Hampton vs Foster 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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Hampton | Foster | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
1,647Lowest |
4,523 |
8,517Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Foster 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Foster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Foster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #22 of 38 in RI | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Hampton School District | Foster | Brooklyn 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 |
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.