Compare towns

Monroe vs Durham vs Brookfield vs Granby

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).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brookfield has the most renters (13.5% rent).
Granby has the most people working from home (30.2%).

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.

MeasureMonroeDurhamBrookfieldGranby
People
Population
18,949Highest
7,208Lowest
17,706
11,184
Median age
43.5±2.2Lowest
6% above CT
45.5±2.8Highest
11% above CT
44.3±1.8
8% above CT
44.7±3.2
9% above CT
Durham and Granby 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%
22.7%±3
CT: 20.2%
21.2%±3.2
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%
17.4%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
18.8%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
21.3%±2.8Highest
CT: 18.5%
Granby 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%
47.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
58.3%
CT: 42.5%
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.3%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$157,250±$12k
64% above CT
$158,857±$7kHighest
66% above CT
$148,360±$11k
55% above CT
$120,275±$14kLowest
26% 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±$23k
16% above CT
$479,700±$24k
31% above CT
$367,900±$17kLowest
about the CT average
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
$1,154±$448
22% below CT
$1,892±$183Highest
27% above CT
$1,335±$169
10% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$7,998
20% above CT
$7,594Lowest
14% above CT
$8,376
26% 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%
29.6%±13.1Lowest
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%Highest
CT: 10%
3.2%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
93.2%
CT: 66.5%
86.5%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1976Lowest
9 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1978Highest
11 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
28 min
7% above CT
Work from home
15.4%±3.3Lowest
CT: 16%
20.5%±6.4
CT: 16%
16.3%±3
CT: 16%
30.2%±5Highest
CT: 16%
Granby 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 #54 of 149 in CT
School district Monroe School District Regional School District 13 Brookfield School District Granby School District
High school in town Masuk High School Coginchaug Regional High School Brookfield High School Granby Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
8.9Lowest
12.7
11.9
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.