Compare towns

Brookfield vs Vernon vs Willimantic

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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldVernonWillimantic
People
Population
17,706Lowest
30,577Highest
18,096
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
44.3±1.8Highest
8% above CT
39.4±2.5
4% below CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Kids under 18
22.7%±3Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.9%±2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
Brookfield and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±1.7
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Brookfield and Vernon 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
CT: 42.5%
38%
CT: 42.5%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
7.8%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$148,360±$11kHighest
55% above CT
$85,356±$6k
11% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$479,700±$24kHighest
31% above CT
$275,500±$11k
25% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,892±$183Highest
27% above CT
$1,425±$77
4% below CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,594Highest
14% above CT
$5,804
13% below CT
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±13.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
39.3%±5.7
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
4.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
13.4%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
53.2%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
16.3%±3Highest
CT: 16%
13.4%±2.5
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Brookfield and Vernon 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 #107 of 149 in CT —
School district Brookfield School District Vernon School District —
High school in town Brookfield High School Rockville High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
12.1Lowest
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On TownTapestry
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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.