Compare towns
Brookfield vs West Haven vs Windham
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 highest household income ($148k).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | West Haven | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Lowest |
55,351Highest |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and West Haven 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% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and West Haven 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% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and West Haven 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 |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and West Haven 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% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | West Haven High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
15.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.