Compare towns
Brookfield vs Stepney vs Willimantic
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 people working from home (16.3%).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k 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 | Stepney | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
3,979Lowest |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Stepney 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±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Brookfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Stepney 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 |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Stepney 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.