Compare towns
Brookfield vs Tolland 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).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Tolland | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
14,606Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
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%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Lowest 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% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
56.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Cheshire 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 |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% 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 |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
$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 |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
$1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
| Brookfield and Tolland 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 |
$7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Cheshire 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% |
5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Cheshire 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 | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Tolland School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Tolland High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.4 |
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.