Compare towns
Brookfield vs Suffield vs Tolland vs Bridgewater
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).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k 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 | Suffield | Tolland | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
15,702 |
14,606 |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Bridgewater 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 |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Brookfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$7,403 11% above CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Tolland 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Suffield School District | Tolland School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Suffield High School | Tolland High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.9Lowest |
12.4 |
— |
| 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.