Compare towns
Bridgeport vs Killingly vs Fairfield 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 renters (57.2% rent).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($781k median).
Stratford has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Killingly | Fairfield | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 149,153Highest |
17,867Lowest |
63,416 |
52,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
40.1±0.9 about the CT average |
45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±0.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24%±1.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±1 CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stratford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
71.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
11%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$172,432±$8kHighest 80% above CT |
$95,815±$7k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$9kLowest 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$780,500±$32kHighest 113% above CT |
$372,200±$8k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,450±$35 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,185±$134Highest 47% above CT |
$1,706±$75 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,496 about the CT average |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,420 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.5%±7.7 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% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
4.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1958 9 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
33 minHighest 24% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
28.4%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #148 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #21 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 · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Fairfield School District | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | Central High School | Killingly High School | Fairfield Ludlowe High School | Stratford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
13.9 |
| 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.