What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratford has the most people working from home (14.6%).

Bridgeport has the most renters (57.2% rent).

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	Stratford	Bridgeport
People
Population	52,790Lowest	149,153Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.1% CT: +0.9%
Median age	45.7±1.4Highest 11% above CT	36.7±0.7Lowest 11% below CT
Kids under 18	18.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±0.8Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	20.7%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5%	13.7%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Highest CT: 42.5%	23.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1Lowest CT: 7.1%	8.1%±0.7Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,815±$7kHighest about the CT average	$58,685±$2kLowest 39% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,200±$8kHighest about the CT average	$274,900±$9kLowest 25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$75Highest 15% above CT	$1,450±$35Lowest about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,420Highest 12% above CT	$6,496Lowest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±7.7Lowest CT: 52.6%	59.5%±3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Bridgeport and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest CT: 10%	21%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest CT: 66.5%	42.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 9 yrs older than CT	1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above CT	31 minHighest 15% above CT
Work from home	14.6%±1.9Highest CT: 16%	7.6%±1Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#134 of 149 in CT	#148 of 149 in CT
School district	Stratford School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · The Bridge Academy District
High school in town	Stratford High School	Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Lowest	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.