Compare towns
Brookfield vs Chaplin vs Sprague 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 most expensive homes ($480k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Chaplin | Sprague | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
2,070Lowest |
2,962 |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Sprague and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Cheshire 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Chaplin 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Cheshire 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 |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$92,850±$11kLowest 3% below 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±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Brookfield and Chaplin 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 |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Chaplin 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 | — | #141 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sprague School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
| 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.