Compare towns
Brookfield vs Killingly vs Orange vs Putnam
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Killingly | Orange | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
17,867Highest |
14,315 |
7,120Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
| 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Killingly 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below 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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Orange 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | — |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Killingly High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.