Compare towns
Brookfield vs Stepney vs Willimantic vs Tolland
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 expensive homes ($480k median).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
3,979Lowest |
18,096Highest |
14,606 |
| 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 |
41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
| 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% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Tolland 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% |
15.3%±2.1 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% |
56.2% 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% |
7.4%±2.3 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 |
$133,264±$16k 39% above 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 |
$365,500±$21k about the CT average |
| 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 |
$1,680±$119 13% above 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 |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Stepney 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% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% 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 |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Brookfield 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 | — | — | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | — | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | — | — | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 12.4Lowest |
| 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.