Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cornwall vs Sharon vs Windham
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 most people working from home (32.4%).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 59.5).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Sharon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
1,425Lowest |
2,723 |
23,961Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Sharon 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% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Windham 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%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$128,864±$34k 35% above CT |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Brookfield and Cornwall 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±$106k 51% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Sharon 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 |
$1,750±$1k 18% above CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Brookfield and Sharon 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 |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Windham 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% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.5% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Sharon 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 | — | — | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Cornwall School District | Sharon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.