Compare towns
Brookfield vs Franklin vs Sprague vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (25.2%).
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 | Franklin | Sprague | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
2,004 |
2,962 |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Sprague 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% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin 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 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater 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±$11k 55% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$92,850±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
| Bridgewater 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 31% above CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | — | #141 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Franklin School District | Sprague School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.