Compare towns
Sterling vs North Smithfield 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).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | North Smithfield | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
12,708Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and North Smithfield 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%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield 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% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and North Smithfield 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. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brooklyn and North Smithfield 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | North Smithfield | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Smitfield HS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.