Compare towns
Fairfield vs Bridgeport vs Staples
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgeport has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Staples has the most expensive homes ($1166k 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 | Fairfield | Bridgeport | Staples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 63,416 |
149,153Highest |
7,340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.1±0.9 about the CT average |
36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT |
48.7±2.9Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±0.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.3%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±1 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.3%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.1% CT: 42.5% |
23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
8.1%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,432±$8k 80% above CT |
$58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT |
$192,656±$58kHighest 101% above CT |
| Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $780,500±$32k 113% above CT |
$274,900±$9kLowest 25% below CT |
$1,165,500±$64kHighest 218% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,185±$134 47% above CT |
$1,450±$35Lowest about the CT average |
$2,328±$387Highest 56% above CT |
| Staples and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,496Lowest about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±7.7 CT: 52.6% |
59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.1%±21.1Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
21%Highest CT: 10% |
4.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above CT |
31 minLowest 15% above CT |
43 minHighest 63% above CT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±1.9 CT: 16% |
7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Staples and Fairfield 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 | #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 | 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.