Compare towns
Brookfield vs Sterling 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 expensive homes ($480k median).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
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 | Sterling | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
3,629Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% 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%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
| Brookfield and Cheshire 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Brookfield and Cheshire 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 |
— | $1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Sterling School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | 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 |
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.