What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most people working from home (28.4%).

Bridgeport has the most affordable homes ($275k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Bridgeport
People
Population	63,416Lowest	149,153Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	40.1±0.9Highest about the CT average	36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT
Kids under 18	24%±1.3Highest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±0.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.6%±1Highest CT: 18.5%	13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.1%Highest CT: 42.5%	23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%	8.1%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,432±$8kHighest 80% above CT	$58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$780,500±$32kHighest 113% above CT	$274,900±$9kLowest 25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,185±$134Highest 47% above CT	$1,450±$35Lowest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$6,496Lowest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±7.7Lowest CT: 52.6%	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Bridgeport and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest CT: 10%	21%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest CT: 66.5%	42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 7 yrs older than CT	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above CT	31 minLowest 15% above CT
Work from home	28.4%±1.9Highest CT: 16%	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#21 of 149 in CT	#148 of 149 in CT
School district	Fairfield School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District
High school in town	Fairfield Ludlowe High School	Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	18.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.