Compare towns
Bethany vs Brookfield vs Durham vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
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 | Bethany | Brookfield | Durham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
17,706Highest |
7,208 |
9,680 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Burlington and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$148,360±$11kLowest 55% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$165,120±$13k 72% above CT |
| Bethany and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$418,700±$21k 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,427±$671 4% below CT |
| Brookfield and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$7,464Lowest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Burlington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3% CT: 10% |
4.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
94.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Burlington and Durham 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brookfield High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.