Compare towns
Brookfield vs Orange vs Trumbull 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).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Trumbull has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Orange | Trumbull | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
14,315 |
37,281Highest |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
41.7±1.3Lowest about the CT average |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
26.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Trumbull and Orange 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.1%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater 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±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$163,073±$11kHighest 70% above CT |
$159,365±$5k 66% above CT |
| Trumbull 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±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$547,300±$21k 49% above CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$2,266±$255Highest 52% above CT |
$1,467±$233Lowest about the CT average |
| Trumbull and Orange 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 |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,869Lowest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Trumbull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
89.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
22.5%±3.2 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Trumbull 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 | #26 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Trumbull School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | Trumbull High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 14.5Highest |
— |
| 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.