Compare towns
Brookfield vs Mansfield vs Windham vs Bridgewater
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Windham | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
25,358Highest |
23,961 |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Windham 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Brookfield 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 |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Bridgewater 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | E. O. Smith High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.8 |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.