Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Willimantic vs Windham 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 people working from home (25.2%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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 | Willimantic | Windham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
18,096 |
23,961Highest |
17,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham 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 |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869 3% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.