Compare towns
Brookfield vs Harvard vs Orange vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most renters (13.5% rent).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
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 | Harvard | Orange | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
6,927 |
14,315 |
1,658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
55.9±4.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
37%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater 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±$11k 84% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kLowest 76% above U.S. |
$159,365±$5k 97% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$693,000±$75k 108% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 34% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,467±$233 4% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,988 188% above U.S. |
$6,869Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±43 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.2%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Harvard | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.