Compare towns
Sterling vs Lancaster vs Windsor Locks 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brooklyn has the oldest 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 | Sterling | Lancaster | Windsor Locks | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
8,606 |
12,579Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sterling 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,538 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Nashoba | Windsor Locks School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.