Compare towns

Brookfield vs Orange vs Redding

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).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldOrangeRedding
People
Population
17,706Highest
14,315
8,780Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
44.3±1.8Lowest
8% above CT
45.6±2.4
11% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
Kids under 18
22.7%±3
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Redding and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
59.4%
CT: 42.5%
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Orange 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±$11k
55% above CT
$142,325±$10kLowest
49% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$479,700±$24kLowest
31% above CT
$491,500±$17k
34% above CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,892±$183Lowest
27% above CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$2,101±$304
41% above CT
Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,594Lowest
14% above CT
$8,988
35% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±13.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%Highest
CT: 10%
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
89.2%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above CT
28 minLowest
4% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
Work from home
16.3%±3
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #67 of 149 in CT #38 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT
School district Brookfield School District — Redding School District · Regional School District 09
High school in town Brookfield High School — Joel Barlow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
11.1Lowest
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.