Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Prospect vs Brookfield vs Lyme
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).
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k median).
Brookfield has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Prospect | Brookfield | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
9,458 |
17,706Highest |
2,303 |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
55.6±3.3 35% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Lyme 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% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Brookfield 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 |
$126,394±$18kLowest 32% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% 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 |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$629,900±$105k 72% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233Lowest about the CT average |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Brookfield and Prospect 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 |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$7,328 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgewater and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
4.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #50 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Regional School District 16 | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 18 |
| 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.