Compare towns
Brookfield vs Willimantic 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).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (25.2%).
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 | Willimantic | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
18,096Highest |
1,658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.