Compare towns
Brookfield vs Thompson vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Thompson | Windsor Locks | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706Highest |
9,337 |
12,579 |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Windsor Locks 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Windsor Locks 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Thompson School District | Windsor Locks School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
8.9 |
— |
| 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.