Compare towns
Brookfield vs Killingly vs Thomaston vs Candlewood Orchards
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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Candlewood Orchards has the most homeowners (95.7%).
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 | Thomaston | Candlewood Orchards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
17,867Highest |
7,492 |
900Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
43.3±4.8 5% above CT |
| Brookfield and Candlewood Orchards 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%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
24.6%±9.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Candlewood Orchards 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.1%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Candlewood Orchards 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$131,250±$101k 37% above CT |
| Brookfield and Candlewood Orchards 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 |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$502,500±$115kHighest 37% above CT |
| Candlewood Orchards and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$7,529 13% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±100 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Candlewood Orchards 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%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
1.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 27% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
8.1%±6.9 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Killingly 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thomaston School District | — |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.