Compare towns
Monroe vs Beacon Falls vs Stepney
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).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Monroe | Beacon Falls | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
6,147 |
3,979Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% 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 | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below 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 | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
$9,309 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
33 minLowest 23% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 16 | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Woodland Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.

