Compare towns
Brookfield vs Columbia vs Coventry 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 highest household income ($148k).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Columbia | Coventry | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
5,300Lowest |
12,326 |
14,315 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Columbia and Orange 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Columbia 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 |
$127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$108,213±$5kLowest 13% 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±$24k 31% above CT |
$361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$330,000±$23kLowest 10% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% 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 |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,232±$330 17% below 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 |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Columbia School District | Coventry School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | Coventry High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.