Compare towns
Wethersfield vs Putnam vs Brooklyn vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wethersfield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k 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 | Wethersfield | Putnam | Brooklyn | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,250 |
9,292 |
8,517Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 43.4±1.5Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Brooklyn and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Brooklyn and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,806±$12k 32% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,600±$11k 12% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,398±$116Highest 6% below CT |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,296 10% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Wethersfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±2.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Wethersfield 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Putnam School District | Brooklyn School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Wethersfield High School | Putnam High School | None in town | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.