Compare towns
Brookfield vs Northbridge vs New Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
New Fairfield has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Northbridge | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
16,458 |
13,584Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.9±3.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Fairfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Fairfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| New Fairfield and Brookfield 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 84% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$137,647±$14k 70% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24k 44% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$484,800±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| New Fairfield 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 34% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,896±$280Highest 34% above U.S. |
| New Fairfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 143% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$8,224Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.2%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Fairfield 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Northbridge | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Northbridge High | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.