Compare towns

Brookfield vs Sutton vs Upton vs New Fairfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
New Fairfield has the most kids (25.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldSuttonUptonNew Fairfield
People
Population
17,706Highest
9,452
8,189Lowest
13,584
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44.3±1.8
14% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
42.9±3.5Lowest
10% above U.S.
Upton 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
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
25.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
New Fairfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and New Fairfield 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
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
New Fairfield 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±$11k
84% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$137,647±$14kLowest
70% above U.S.
Upton 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±$24kLowest
44% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$484,800±$17k
46% above U.S.
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,892±$183
34% above U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,896±$280Highest
34% above U.S.
New Fairfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,594
143% above U.S.
$6,763Lowest
117% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$8,224
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±13.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.2%±17.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
7% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
42 minHighest
60% above U.S.
Work from home
16.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #49 of 149 in CT
School district Brookfield School District Sutton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton New Fairfield School District
High school in town Brookfield High School Sutton High School Blackstone Valley New Fairfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
12.6
11.2Lowest
11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.