What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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	Derby
People
Population	18,949Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT
	Derby 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%	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5%
	Derby 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Derby and Monroe 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	$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average
	Derby 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	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Monroe 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%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	27 minLowest about the CT average
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Monroe and Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Derby School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	9.7Lowest
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.