Compare towns
Sterling vs Wilbraham 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).
Wilbraham has the most expensive homes ($416k 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 | Wilbraham | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
14,572Highest |
8,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brooklyn and Wilbraham 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% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklyn and Wilbraham 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. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$96,207±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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. |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$315,200±$28k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,175±$241Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.