Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ridgefield 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 affordable homes ($480k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
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 | Ridgefield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
25,109Highest |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kLowest 55% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$159,365±$5k 66% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kLowest 31% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$693,000±$75k 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$2,026±$200Highest 36% above CT |
$1,467±$233Lowest about the CT average |
| Ridgefield and Brookfield 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 |
$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% |
53.3%±12Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Ridgefield and Bridgewater 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% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
| Ridgefield and Bridgewater 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 | #4 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Ridgefield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Ridgefield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.