Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cornwall vs Lyme
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k 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 | Cornwall | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
1,425Lowest |
2,303 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall 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% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cornwall 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 |
$128,864±$34kLowest 35% above CT |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
| Brookfield and Lyme 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 |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
| Lyme and Cornwall 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 |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
| Brookfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
$7,328 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Cornwall and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
31 minHighest 17% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Lyme 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 | — | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Cornwall School District | Regional School District 18 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | 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.