Compare towns
Brookfield vs West Cornwall vs Windham vs New Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 61.3).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | Brookfield | West Cornwall | Windham | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
70Lowest |
23,961Highest |
13,584 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
61.3±14.1Highest 49% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
42.9±3.5 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
8.6%±49.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
25.1%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Fairfield and Brookfield 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% |
44.3%±50.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
| West Cornwall 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 CT: 42.5% |
57.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±21.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$175,156±$54kHighest 83% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$137,647±$14k 44% above CT |
| West Cornwall 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 |
$395,800±$64k 8% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$484,800±$17kHighest 32% above CT |
| New Fairfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
— | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,896±$280Highest 27% above CT |
| 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 14% above CT |
$3,056Lowest 54% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$8,224Highest 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.2%±17.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.8% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
42 minHighest 60% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
14.6%±12.8 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
| New Fairfield and Brookfield 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | — | Windham High School | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.