Compare towns
Sterling vs Lisbon vs Brooklyn vs Thomaston
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 people working from home (11.6%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Thomaston has the most renters (22.3% 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 | Lisbon | Brooklyn | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
4,211 |
8,517Highest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Lisbon 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% |
22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon 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% |
21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Lisbon and Thomaston 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% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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 7% above CT |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
| Thomaston 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 23% below CT |
$315,700±$26kHighest 14% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
| Lisbon and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,125±$98Highest 24% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 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 |
32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Lisbon School District | Brooklyn School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.