What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brookfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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	Monroe	Brookfield
People
Population	18,949Highest	17,706Lowest
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT	44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT
	Brookfield and Monroe 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%	22.7%±3Lowest 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+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%
	Brookfield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5%	58.3%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Monroe and Brookfield 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	$148,360±$11kLowest 55% 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	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$479,700±$24kLowest 31% 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	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT
	Brookfield and Monroe 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	$7,594Lowest 14% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6%	35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Monroe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%	4.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 11 yrs newer than CT	1978 11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	28 minLowest 6% above CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%	16.3%±3Highest CT: 16%
	Brookfield 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	#67 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Brookfield School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	Brookfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.7Lowest
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.