Compare towns
Brookfield vs Middlebury vs Sandy Hook 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 renters (13.5% rent).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sandy Hook has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
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 | Middlebury | Sandy Hook | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
7,807 |
9,863 |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Sandy Hook 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% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Sandy Hook 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 55% above CT |
$133,487±$26kLowest 39% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$159,365±$5k 66% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Bridgewater 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 |
$476,400±$23kLowest 30% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% below CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Brookfield and Sandy Hook 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 |
$8,434 27% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,869Lowest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
5.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Sandy Hook 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 | #55 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 15 | — | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.