Compare towns
Tolland vs Stepney vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Brookfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Tolland | Stepney | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,606 |
3,979Lowest |
17,706Highest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Stepney and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.2% CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
| Stepney and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
| Brookfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$119Lowest 13% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Stepney and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
28 minLowest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Brookfield 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 | #60 of 149 in CT | — | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Tolland School District | — | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Tolland High School | — | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.