Compare towns
Waterford vs Brooklyn vs Niantic
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Niantic has the most people working from home (20.8%).
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 | Waterford | Brooklyn | Niantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,673Highest |
8,517 |
3,123Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46±2.4 12% above CT |
45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
58.4±2.7Highest 42% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±5.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
35.4%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Waterford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,820±$9kHighest 9% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT |
| Waterford and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,900±$14k about the CT average |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$396,000±$38kHighest 8% above CT |
| Niantic and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,651±$153Highest 11% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,478±$259 about the CT average |
| Waterford and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,876 27% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,311Highest 5% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.4%±12 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.1%±20.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Niantic and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.2%±2.2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
20.8%±12.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Niantic and Brooklyn 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 | #80 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Learn · Waterford School District | Brooklyn School District | — |
| High school in town | Waterford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.