Compare towns
Brookfield vs Hamden vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Hamden | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706Lowest |
61,045Highest |
18,949 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
| Brookfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
| Monroe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
| Monroe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Brookfield and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594Lowest 14% above CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Hamden High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.