Compare towns
Brookfield vs Willimantic vs Coventry 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
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Coventry has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
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 | Willimantic | Coventry | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
18,096Highest |
12,326Lowest |
13,584 |
| 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 |
45.4±3.8Highest 10% above CT |
42.9±3.5 4% above CT |
| Coventry and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Coventry 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
48.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$137,647±$14k 44% above CT |
| Brookfield and New Fairfield 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 |
$330,000±$23k 10% 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,232±$330 17% 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$8,224Highest 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.2%±17.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Willimantic 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% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
42 minHighest 60% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 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 | — | #41 of 149 in CT | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | — | Coventry School District | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | — | Coventry High School | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
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.