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201309_BPL_BROOKFIELD
Brookfield, CT
Joe Dolen

Top 50 rank: 26

Population: 16,788

Surrounded by the largest lakes in Connecticut, Brookfield is a great spot for water recreation -- not to mention exploring lots of wooded hiking trails and open space. There are few employers right in town, so many residents commute within Fairfield County or to New York City, a 90-minute drive away.

While it is pedestrian-friendly, the town lacks a downtown. However, an area with residential and retail developments is under construction and should be completed within five years. --K.F.

Brookfield, CT

Town stats

Brookfield, CT

Town stats

Median family income (per year) $131,547
Job growth % (2010-2012) 7.14%
Median home price (2012) $290,000
Reading test scores (% above/below average) 19.8%
Math test scores (% above/below average) 16.8%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 12

Financials

Median family income (per year) $131,547
Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) $89,977
Sales tax (state) 6.35%
State income tax rate (highest bracket) 6.70%I
State income tax rate (lowest bracket) 3.00%I
Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state) $1,866
Job growth % (2010-2012) 7.14%

Financials

Housing

Median home price (2012) $290,000
Average property taxes(2012) $6,274

Housing

Education

Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles) 19
Reading test scores (% above/below state average) 19.8%
Test scores math (% above/below average) 16.8%
% students attending public/private schools (located within town limits) 91.2/8.8

Education

Quality of life

Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good) 84.2%
Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) 1
Property crime incidents (per 1,000) 12
Median commute time (in minutes) 21.7
% population with commute 45 mins. or longer 26.9%
% population walk or bike to work 1.7%

Quality of life

Leisure and culture

Movie theaters (within 15 miles) 10
Restaurants (within 15 miles) 864
Bars (within 15 miles) 53
Public golf courses (within 30 miles) 174
Libraries (within 15 miles) 29
Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) 8
Ski resorts (within 100 miles) N.A.
Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) 1.1

Leisure and culture

Weather

Annual rainfall (inches) 44.15
% clear days in the area 56%
High temp in July ° F 83.9°
Low temp in Jan ° F 17.6°

Weather

Meet the neighbors

Median age 42.7
Completed at least some college (% of residents) 76.8%
Married % 61.5%
Divorced % 7.0%
Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity) 31.2

Meet the neighbors