Compare towns
Westbrook vs Morris vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Morris has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
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 | Westbrook | Morris | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,856Highest |
2,164Lowest |
6,794 |
| Median age | 58.2±3.7Highest 42% above CT |
52.8±6.5 28% above CT |
52.4±3.6Lowest 27% above CT |
| Westbrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Morris and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.3%±6.6 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Westbrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3 CT: 7.1% |
8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Essex and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,202±$23kLowest 5% below CT |
$109,191±$25kHighest 14% above CT |
$104,395±$7k 9% above CT |
| Morris and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,300±$42k 18% above CT |
$396,000±$60kLowest 8% above CT |
$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$176 4% below CT |
$1,204±$134Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT |
| Essex and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829Highest 12% below CT |
$5,273Lowest 21% below CT |
$5,678 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±17.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±9.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Morris and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
78.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
27 min 3% above CT |
| Work from home | 19%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7Lowest CT: 16% |
19.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Essex and Westbrook 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 | #59 of 149 in CT | — | #33 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Westbrook School District | Regional School District 20 | Essex School District |
| High school in town | Westbrook High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.3 |
— | — |
| 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.