What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Durham
People
Population	18,949Highest	7,208Lowest
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT	45.5±2.8Highest 11% 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	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	17.4%±3.7Highest 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+	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	3.6%±1.5Lowest 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	$157,250±$12kLowest 64% above CT	$158,857±$7kHighest 66% 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	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,154±$448Highest 22% 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	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$7,998Lowest 20% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6%	44.9%±28.4Lowest 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	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%	3.4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	93.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	23 minLowest 13% below CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%	20.5%±6.4Highest 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	#48 of 149 in CT	#88 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Regional School District 13
High school in town	Masuk High School	Coginchaug Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	8.9Lowest
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.