Compare towns
Brookfield vs Monroe vs Putnam vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (25.2%).
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 | Putnam | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
18,949Highest |
7,120 |
1,658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Monroe 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±$12k 64% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% 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 | $479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,869 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| Monroe and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Monroe School District | — | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Masuk High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.