Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cornwall vs Orange vs South Windsor
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).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
South Windsor has the most affordable homes ($375k 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 | Orange | South Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
1,425Lowest |
14,315 |
26,907Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
41.2±1.3Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
23.4%±2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| South Windsor and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.1%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| South Windsor and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$144,961±$10k 51% above CT |
| Brookfield and South Windsor 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 |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$375,100±$12kLowest about the CT average |
| Cornwall and Orange 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 |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,864±$214 25% 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 |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,888 19% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
49.9%±10.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and South Windsor 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
27.5%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and South Windsor 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 | #40 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Cornwall School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Capitol Region Education Council · South Windsor School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | None in town | South Windsor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.