Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Cornwall vs Monroe vs Stepney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Stepney has the most affordable homes ($476k 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 | Bridgewater | Cornwall | Monroe | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658 |
1,425Lowest |
18,949Highest |
3,979 |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
53.9±5.1 31% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.1% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$128,864±$34kLowest 35% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$554,600±$106k 51% above CT |
$503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,047±$121 30% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869 3% above CT |
$5,792Lowest 13% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% CT: 10% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% CT: 66.5% |
87.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall and Bridgewater 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 | — | — | #48 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Cornwall School District | Monroe School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Masuk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.