Compare towns
Monroe vs Derby vs Brookfield
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).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Derby | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
12,487Lowest |
17,706 |
| 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 |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Derby and Brookfield 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% |
22.7%±3 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$148,360±$11k 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$479,700±$24k 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 |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest 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% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Derby School District | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Derby High School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.