Compare towns
Brookfield vs Orange vs Orange
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%).
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 | Orange | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
14,315Lowest |
14,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% 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±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Lowest 27% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Lowest 14% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.