Compare towns

Brookfield vs Monroe vs Windsor Locks vs Cheshire

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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldMonroeWindsor LocksCheshire
People
Population
17,706
18,949
12,579Lowest
29,040Highest
Median age
44.3±1.8
8% above CT
43.5±2.2
6% above CT
41.4±2.6Lowest
about the CT average
44.9±1.4Highest
9% above CT
Cheshire 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%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.9%±2.3
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%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
21.3%±1.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
Cheshire 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%
CT: 42.5%
57.3%
CT: 42.5%
28.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
60.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±1.1
CT: 7.1%
Windsor Locks 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
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
$146,528±$12k
53% 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
$258,800±$14kLowest
29% below CT
$440,000±$17k
20% above 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
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,398±$116
6% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,594
14% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$7,755
17% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.9%±13.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
48.8%±46.4
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±6.3
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks 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%
10.9%Highest
CT: 10%
5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.5%
CT: 66.5%
95.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1974
7 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
29 min
9% above CT
Work from home
16.3%±3
CT: 16%
15.4%±3.3Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
19.1%±2.7Highest
CT: 16%
Cheshire and Windsor Locks 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 #109 of 149 in CT #18 of 149 in CT
School district Brookfield School District Monroe School District Windsor Locks School District Cheshire School District
High school in town Brookfield High School Masuk High School Windsor Locks High School Cheshire High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
12.8Highest
8.9Lowest
11.6
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.