Compare towns
Brookfield vs Monroe vs Suffield vs New Fairfield
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 renters (13.5% rent).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
New Fairfield has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Suffield | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
18,949Highest |
15,702 |
13,584Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
42.9±3.5Lowest 4% above CT |
| Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.1%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and New Fairfield 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Fairfield 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% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
48.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| New Fairfield 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±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
$137,647±$14k 44% 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 |
$407,500±$26kLowest 11% above CT |
$484,800±$17k 32% above CT |
| Monroe and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,896±$280Highest 27% above CT |
| New Fairfield and Brookfield 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 |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$8,224 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.2%±17.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
42 minHighest 60% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
18%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and New Fairfield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Monroe School District | Suffield School District | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Masuk High School | Suffield High School | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.