Compare towns
Hampton vs Bridgewater vs Sharon vs Brooklyn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($159k).
Sharon has the most renters (27.5% rent).
Brooklyn has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Hampton | Bridgewater | Sharon | Brooklyn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
1,658 |
2,723 |
8,517Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
55.9±4.4 36% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.8% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$100,518±$15k 5% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$590,700±$156k 61% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
| Bridgewater and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,869Highest 3% above CT |
$4,484 33% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bridgewater and Sharon 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 | — | — | — | #113 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | Regional School District 12 | Sharon School District | Brooklyn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.