Compare towns
Brookfield vs Douglas vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
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 | Douglas | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
9,207Lowest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 84% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kLowest 76% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24k 44% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 143% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Douglas | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.