Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Orange vs Brookfield vs Cornwall
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).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Brookfield has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Orange | Brookfield | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658 |
14,315 |
17,706Highest |
1,425Lowest |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$128,864±$34kLowest 35% 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 |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$479,700±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall 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 |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
| Orange and Brookfield 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 |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Brookfield School District | Cornwall School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brookfield High School | None in town |
| 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.