What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgeport has the most renters (57.2% rent).

Stratford has the most people working from home (14.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgeport	Stratford
People
Population	149,153Highest	52,790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT	45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT
Kids under 18	20.9%±0.8Highest CT: 20.2%	18.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	20.7%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	37.7%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT	$95,815±$7kHighest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,900±$9kLowest 25% below CT	$372,200±$8kHighest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,450±$35Lowest about the CT average	$1,706±$75Highest 15% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,496Lowest about the CT average	$7,420Highest 12% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%	59.3%±7.7Lowest 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%	6.7%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%	81.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT	1958Highest 9 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above CT	30 minLowest 13% above CT
Work from home	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%	14.6%±1.9Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#148 of 149 in CT	#134 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District	Stratford School District
High school in town	Central High School	Stratford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	18.6Highest	13.9Lowest
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.