Compare towns
Monroe vs Durham vs Brookfield vs Easton
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 homeowners (95.7%).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brookfield has the most renters (13.5% rent).
Easton has the most expensive homes ($783k 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.
| Measure | Monroe | Durham | Brookfield | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
7,208Lowest |
17,706 |
7,670 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
45±3.8 9% above CT |
| Durham and Easton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Easton and Monroe 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.7%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Durham 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% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Easton 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±$12k 64% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$148,360±$11kLowest 55% above CT |
$222,604±$46kHighest 132% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$783,100±$51kHighest 113% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$3,205±$1kHighest 115% above CT |
| Easton and Brookfield 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 |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$7,594Lowest 14% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
21.8%±12.5Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
6.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
33 min 24% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
21.3%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Easton and Durham 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #9 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 13 | Brookfield School District | Easton School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Brookfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.