Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Cornwall vs Sharon vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Sharon has the most renters (27.5% rent).
Brookfield has the most kids (22.7% 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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Cornwall | Sharon | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658 |
1,425Lowest |
2,723 |
17,706Highest |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4 36% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$128,864±$34k 35% above CT |
$100,518±$15kLowest 5% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$590,700±$156k 61% above CT |
$479,700±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
| Brookfield and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869 3% above CT |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
28 minLowest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Bridgewater 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 | — | — | — | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Cornwall School District | Sharon School District | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.