What stands out worked out from the figures below

Branford has the most expensive homes ($401k median).

Bloomfield has the most affordable homes ($287k 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	Branford	Bloomfield
People
Population	28,217Highest	21,754Lowest
Median age	54.2±2.1Highest 32% above CT	48.4±3.3Lowest 18% above CT
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2%	13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Branford and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5%	27.3%±2.6Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Branford and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.5%Highest CT: 42.5%	40.8%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Bloomfield and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,225±$7kHighest 10% above CT	$98,725±$14kLowest 3% above CT
	Branford and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,200±$21kHighest 9% above CT	$286,900±$11kLowest 22% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,565±$111Lowest 5% above CT	$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,575Highest about the CT average	$5,795Lowest 13% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9Lowest CT: 52.6%	52.6%±11.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Bloomfield and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest CT: 10%	5.8%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	71.1%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below CT	23 minLowest 12% below CT
Work from home	16.1%±3.8Lowest CT: 16%	18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16%
	Bloomfield and Branford 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	#94 of 149 in CT	#139 of 149 in CT
School district	Branford School District	Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council
High school in town	Branford High School	Academy of International Studies 6-12
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.