Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sandy Hook vs Cornwall vs Candlewood Orchards
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Candlewood Orchards has the most kids (24.6% 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 | Sandy Hook | Cornwall | Candlewood Orchards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
9,863 |
1,425 |
900Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
43.3±4.8 5% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24.6%±9.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Candlewood Orchards 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.1%±6.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Candlewood Orchards 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Cornwall 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$128,864±$34kLowest 35% above CT |
$131,250±$101k 37% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Brookfield 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 |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$502,500±$115k 37% above CT |
| Cornwall and Candlewood Orchards are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,047±$121Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Brookfield and Sandy Hook 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 |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
$7,529 13% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±100 CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
1.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
34 min 27% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
8.1%±6.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Sandy Hook 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | Cornwall School District | — |
| 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 | 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.