Compare towns
Monroe vs Durham vs Tolland
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 expensive homes ($503k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
7,208Lowest |
14,606 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| 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% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland 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±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% 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 |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
| Tolland and Durham 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 |
$7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland 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% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland 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 | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 13 | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.