Compare towns
Sterling vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($283k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
32,459Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sterling 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Needham | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.