What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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	7,208Lowest	18,949Highest
Median age	45.5±2.8Highest 11% 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	16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Highest 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+	47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest 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	$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT	$157,250±$12kLowest 64% above CT
	Durham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$448Highest 22% below 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	$7,998Lowest 20% above CT	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6%
	Monroe and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest CT: 10%	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below CT	34 minHighest 29% above CT
Work from home	20.5%±6.4Highest 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	Regional School District 13	Monroe School District
High school in town	Coginchaug Regional High School	Masuk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	12.8Highest
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.