Compare towns
Bethel vs Windsor Locks vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most renters (24.8% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Bethel | Windsor Locks | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,796Highest |
12,579Lowest |
17,706 |
| Median age | 42.8±2.6 4% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
| Brookfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,541±$7k 22% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,600±$16k 18% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,640±$142 10% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
| Brookfield and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 23% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±11.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±2.9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Bethel 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 | #100 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethel School District | Windsor Locks School District | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Bethel High School | Windsor Locks High School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
8.9Lowest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.