The Town Files

Branford, Connecticut

Town · population 28,273 (2020 Census)

Map: where Branford is in ConnecticutBranford
Median home
$401,200
Household income
$105,225
Jan low / Jul high
23° / 82°
Snow a year
34 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
6
Median age
54.2

Branford is a town of 28,273 people, Connecticut. The median home is worth $401,200, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). It ranks more seaside character than 91% of Connecticut towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Connecticut towns, better for cycling than 83% of Connecticut towns.

How Branford ranks

Percentile among Connecticut towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Connecticut towns.

Branford lifestyle rankings vs other Connecticut townsRetirement62nd pctFamilies14th pctQuiet50th pctWalkability71st pctFirst-time buyers66th pctYoung professionals62nd pctVibrancy75th pctHip & trendy77th pctCollege town10th pctUpscale46th pctVacation homes86th pctSeaside character91st pctCycling83rd pctTransit48th pctDriving69th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Branford is worth $401,200, above the typical Connecticut town ($376,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $105,225, which is more affordable than 40% of Connecticut towns. Median rent is $1,565 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.

Branford vs county vs typical Connecticut townBranfordCountyTypical Connecticut townHome value$401,200$376,000Household income$105,225$109,167Monthly rent$1,565$1,462
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of Connecticut towns with 500+ people.
HousingBranfordTypical Connecticut town
Median home value$401,200$376,000
Median rent$1,565$1,462
Median household income$105,225$109,167
Home value ÷ income3.8×3.6×
Homeownership69.5%80.3%
Median year built19721969
Seasonal / vacation homes4.3%—

Who lives in Branford

PeopleBranfordTypical Connecticut town
Median age54.245.0
Age 65 and over30.3%20.6%
Under 1814.1%—
Bachelor's degree or higher51.5%45.8%
Below the poverty line5.9%5.7%
Veterans5.2%—
Born outside the U.S.10.5%—
Work from home16.1%16.8%
Average commute23.5 min27.6 min
Homes with broadband93.6%93.8%

Weather in Branford

July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Connecticut town: 39.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.

Branford monthly temperatures and precipitation20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing38°23°Jan40°24°Feb47°30°Mar58°39°Apr68°49°May76°59°Jun82°66°Jul81°65°Aug75°57°Sep64°46°Oct53°36°Nov44°29°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue2.78.52.810.73.77.04.20.93.53.53.43.54.03.80.13.10.93.55.5
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the New Haven Tweed Ap station (5.4 mi away); snowfall estimated from the 1 nearest snow stations, weighted by distance.

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Branford since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Connecticut town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 10, 1989 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 13, 2021.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Branford by decade11950s01960s01970s11980s01990s12000s12010s22020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on August 26, 2024.

Public schools in Branford

5 public schools with 2,530 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.

SchoolGradesStudentsPer teacher
Francis Walsh Intermediate School5-879511.4
Branford High School9-1278411.2
Mary T. Murphy SchoolPK-434911.6
Mary R. Tisko SchoolPK-434511.5
John B. Sliney SchoolPK-425710.3

Towns near Branford

Branford questions

Is Branford, Connecticut a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Branford scores better for retirees than 62% of Connecticut towns and quieter than 50%. 30.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).

How much does a house cost in Branford?

The median owner-occupied home in Branford is valued at $401,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,225, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,565 a month.

What is the weather like in Branford?

July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.

Does Branford get tornadoes?

6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Branford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 10, 1989. The typical Connecticut town has had 8.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Branford's Census boundary (GEOID 0917007310). Comparisons use the median of Connecticut towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.