Compare towns
Brookfield vs Candlewood Orchards 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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Candlewood Orchards has the most kids (24.6% under 18).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Brookfield | Candlewood Orchards | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
900Lowest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.3±4.8Lowest 5% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.6%±9.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Candlewood Orchards and Orange 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% |
24.1%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Candlewood Orchards and Orange 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% |
57.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Brookfield 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 |
$131,250±$101kLowest 37% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
$502,500±$115kHighest 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Candlewood Orchards and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Lowest 27% above CT |
— | $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 |
$7,529Lowest 13% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±100 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Candlewood Orchards are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest CT: 10% |
1.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
34 minHighest 27% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
8.1%±6.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Orange 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school 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 |
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.