Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ledyard vs Orange vs Tolland
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).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Ledyard | Orange | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
15,433 |
14,315Lowest |
14,606 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
41.4±2.5 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% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Orange 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%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
40.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland 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±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$107,975±$10kLowest 13% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% 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 |
$326,200±$27kLowest 11% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| 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 |
$1,629±$247Lowest 9% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% 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 | $7,594 14% above CT |
$6,371Lowest 4% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Brookfield 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Ledyard School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Ledyard High School | None in town | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— | 12.4 |
| 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.