Compare towns
Brookfield vs Bethlehem vs Bridgewater vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (25.2%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Bethlehem | Bridgewater | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
3,423 |
1,658Lowest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest 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+ | 18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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 | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% 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 | $479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 12 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | None in town | 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.