What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Britain has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Bridgeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	New Britain	Bridgeport
People
Population	74,223Lowest	149,153Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Lowest CT: +0.9%	+3.1%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	34.3±1.2Lowest 17% below CT	36.7±0.7Highest 11% below CT
Kids under 18	22%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±0.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
	New Britain and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.6%±1.1Highest CT: 18.5%	13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%
	New Britain and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%	23.4%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.4%±1Highest CT: 7.1%	8.1%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1%
	New Britain and Bridgeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,613±$2kLowest 39% below CT	$58,685±$2kHighest 39% below CT
	Bridgeport and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,600±$6kLowest 39% below CT	$274,900±$9kHighest 25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$45Lowest 16% below CT	$1,450±$35Highest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,846Lowest 12% below CT	$6,496Highest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Bridgeport and New Britain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.1%Lowest CT: 10%	21%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 11 yrs older than CT	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below CT	31 minHighest 15% above CT
Work from home	8%±1.4Highest CT: 16%	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%
	New Britain and Bridgeport 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	#149 of 149 in CT	#148 of 149 in CT
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Capitol Region Education Council	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District
High school in town	New Britain High School	Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Lowest	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.