Compare towns
Sterling vs Ludlow 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).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 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 | Ludlow | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
20,904Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Ludlow 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% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Ludlow 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. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15k 19% above U.S. |
| 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±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,223±$82Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ludlow and Brooklyn 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. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Brooklyn 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow and Sterling 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Ludlow | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.