Compare towns
Brookfield vs Monroe vs Thompson
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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,706 |
18,949Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Monroe and Brookfield 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below 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 |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Monroe School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Masuk High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.