What stands out worked out from the figures below

Branford has the oldest population (median age 54.2).

Milford has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

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	Milford
People
Population	28,217Lowest	52,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-1.4% CT: +0.9%
Median age	54.2±2.1Highest 32% above CT	46.6±1.4Lowest 13% above CT
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	17.2%±1.4Highest CT: 20.2%
	Milford and Branford 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%	22.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.5%Highest CT: 42.5%	50.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	5%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%
	Milford 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±$7kLowest 10% above CT	$110,669±$7kHighest 16% above CT
	Milford and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,200±$21kLowest 9% above CT	$416,800±$9kHighest 14% above CT
	Milford and Branford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,565±$111Lowest 5% above CT	$1,882±$80Highest 26% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,575Lowest about the CT average	$6,694Highest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±9Lowest CT: 52.6%	51.3%±7.3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Milford 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%	5.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%	75.8%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT	1965Lowest 2 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below CT	25 minHighest 4% below CT
Work from home	16.1%±3.8Lowest CT: 16%	17.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16%
	Milford 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	#98 of 149 in CT
School district	Branford School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District
High school in town	Branford High School	Jonathan Law High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.8Lowest
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.