Compare towns
Bridgeport vs Danbury vs Stratford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgeport has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Danbury has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Stratford has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Bridgeport | Danbury | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 149,153Highest |
87,263 |
52,790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT |
40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±0.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bridgeport and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
37.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgeport and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
$95,815±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Stratford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$9kLowest 25% below CT |
$411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT |
$372,200±$8k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,450±$35Lowest about the CT average |
$1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
$1,706±$75 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,496 about the CT average |
$5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
$7,420Highest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.3%±7.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgeport and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest CT: 10% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
6.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1958 9 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above CT |
30 minLowest 13% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Stratford and Danbury 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 | #148 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT | #134 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | Central High School | Danbury High School | Stratford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.6Highest |
15.7 |
13.9Lowest |
| 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.