Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hamden vs Orange
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).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
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 | Hamden | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
61,045Highest |
14,315Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Brookfield and Orange 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| 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 27% above CT |
$1,746±$50Lowest 17% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% 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 | $7,594Lowest 14% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Hamden High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.