What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

New Britain has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Bridgeport	New Britain
People
Population	149,153Highest	74,223Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest CT: +0.9%	+1.3%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	36.7±0.7Highest 11% below CT	34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT
Kids under 18	20.9%±0.8Lowest CT: 20.2%	22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%
	New Britain and Bridgeport 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%	14.6%±1.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	New Britain and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%	9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1%
	New Britain and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,685±$2kHighest 39% below CT	$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT
	Bridgeport and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,900±$9kHighest 25% below CT	$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,450±$35Highest about the CT average	$1,253±$45Lowest 16% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,496Highest about the CT average	$5,846Lowest 12% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%	55.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Bridgeport and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21%Highest CT: 10%	18.1%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	45.1%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT	1956Highest 11 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above CT	22 minLowest 19% below CT
Work from home	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%	8%±1.4Highest CT: 16%
	New Britain and Bridgeport 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	#149 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council
High school in town	Central High School	New Britain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	18.6Highest	16.2Lowest
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.