What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Monroe
People
Population	3,347Lowest	18,949Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+28.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	47.9±5.4Highest 17% above CT	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT
	Durham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	19.1%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5%	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Durham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%
	Monroe and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,396±$32kLowest 59% above CT	$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT
	Monroe and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$401,700±$32kLowest 9% above CT	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$1kHighest 9% above CT	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT
	Durham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,107Lowest 7% above CT	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±35Highest CT: 52.6%	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Durham 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%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Lowest CT: 66.5%	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below CT	34 minHighest 29% above CT
Work from home	20%±6.7Highest CT: 16%	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%
	Durham 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	#88 of 149 in CT	#48 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Monroe School District
High school in town	—	Masuk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.