Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sandy Hook vs Willimantic vs Cheshire
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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Sandy Hook | Willimantic | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
9,863Lowest |
18,096 |
29,040Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Sandy Hook 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% 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±$24k 31% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Sandy Hook and Brookfield 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,755 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Cheshire 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 | — | — | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | — | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | — | — | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.