Compare towns
Brookfield vs Orange vs Redding vs New Fairfield
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%).
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 | Orange | Redding | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
14,315 |
8,780Lowest |
13,584 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
42.9±3.5Lowest 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.1%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Fairfield and Orange 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% |
20.1%±2.5 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
48.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| New Fairfield and Orange 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±$10k 49% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$137,647±$14kLowest 44% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$484,800±$17k 32% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Lowest 27% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,896±$280 27% 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 |
$8,224 24% 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% |
43.2%±17.9 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% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%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 |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
36 min 36% above CT |
42 minHighest 60% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
18%±3.2 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 | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.