Compare towns
Columbia vs Monroe vs Stepney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
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 | Columbia | Monroe | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
18,949Highest |
3,979Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
| Columbia and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kLowest 33% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kLowest about the CT average |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$994±$860 33% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Columbia School District | Monroe School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.