Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cheshire vs Killingly vs Candlewood Orchards
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 highest household income ($148k).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Candlewood Orchards has the most homeowners (95.7%).
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 | Cheshire | Killingly | Candlewood Orchards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
29,040Highest |
17,867 |
900Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
43.3±4.8 5% above CT |
| Cheshire and Brookfield 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% |
21.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.6%±9.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Candlewood Orchards 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% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.1%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Candlewood Orchards 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% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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 |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$131,250±$101k 37% 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 |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$502,500±$115kHighest 37% above CT |
| Candlewood Orchards and Brookfield 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 |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,529 13% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±100 CT: 52.6% |
| Cheshire 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% CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
34 minHighest 27% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | #18 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Cheshire School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Cheshire High School | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.6 |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.