Compare towns
Brookfield vs Monroe vs Preston
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Preston has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Brookfield | Monroe | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
18,949Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Brookfield 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% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Brookfield 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% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Monroe and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% 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 |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Brookfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Monroe 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Monroe School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Masuk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.