Compare towns

Brookfield vs Monroe vs Sandy Hook

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldMonroeSandy Hook
People
Population
17,706
18,949Highest
9,863Lowest
Median age
44.3±1.8Highest
8% above CT
43.5±2.2
6% above CT
43.1±3Lowest
5% 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%
25.2%±3Highest
CT: 20.2%
22.6%±4.1Lowest
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%
15.6%±2
CT: 18.5%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Brookfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.3%
CT: 42.5%
57.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
60.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Sandy Hook 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±$11kLowest
55% above CT
$157,250±$12k
64% above CT
$160,814±$25kHighest
68% above CT
Sandy Hook 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±$24kLowest
31% above CT
$503,200±$31kHighest
37% above CT
$501,200±$33k
37% above CT
Monroe and Sandy Hook 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
$1,866±$439
25% above CT
Brookfield and Sandy Hook 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±13.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
48.8%±46.4
CT: 52.6%
52.4%±26.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
Sandy Hook 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%
2.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.6%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
95.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
92.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
11 yrs newer than CT
1978Lowest
11 yrs newer than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above CT
34 min
29% above CT
35 minHighest
33% above CT
Work from home
16.3%±3
CT: 16%
15.4%±3.3Lowest
CT: 16%
23.1%±4.4Highest
CT: 16%
Sandy Hook and Brookfield 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 —
School district Brookfield School District Monroe School District —
High school in town Brookfield High School Masuk High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Lowest
12.8Highest
—
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.