Compare towns
Brookfield vs Brooklyn vs Orange vs Cheshire
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).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Brooklyn | Orange | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
8,517Lowest |
14,315 |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3 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%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
| Brookfield and Cheshire 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 |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,398±$116 6% 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 | $7,594 14% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,755 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Brooklyn School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | None in town | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.