Compare towns

Sterling vs Woonsocket 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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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.

MeasureSterlingWoonsocketBrooklyn
People
Population
3,629Lowest
43,521Highest
8,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
45.6±2.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Brooklyn and Sterling 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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brooklyn and Woonsocket 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%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below 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.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$315,200±$28kHighest
5% below U.S.
Brooklyn and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,161±$48Highest
18% below U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI #113 of 149 in CT
School district Sterling School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Brooklyn School District
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2
—
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.