Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Sandy Hook 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).
Sandy Hook has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Brookfield has the most renters (13.5% rent).
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 | Sandy Hook | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
9,863 |
17,706Highest |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Sandy Hook 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5k 66% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$148,360±$11kLowest 55% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Bridgewater 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 |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$479,700±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233Lowest about the CT average |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
| Brookfield and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869Lowest 3% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook 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% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
28 minLowest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Sandy Hook 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 | — | Brookfield School District |
| High school 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 |
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.