What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).

Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sterling	Brooklyn
People
Population	8,183Lowest	8,517Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S.	45.6±2.5Lowest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brooklyn and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sterling and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brooklyn and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S.	$96,207±$15kLowest 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	$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S.	$315,200±$28kLowest 5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,125±$98Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 117% above U.S.	$4,538Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.5%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sterling and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±5.4Lowest 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	#135 of 282 in MA	#113 of 149 in CT
School district	Wachusett	Brooklyn School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.