Compare towns
Monroe vs Griswold vs Stepney 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).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Brookfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Griswold | Stepney | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
11,530 |
3,979Lowest |
17,706 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Griswold and Stepney 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% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 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% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Brookfield and Griswold 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% |
19.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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 |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
| Monroe and Stepney 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 |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above 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 |
$1,177±$65 21% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Stepney 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 |
$4,628Lowest 30% below CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% CT: 10% |
7.6%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
28 minLowest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | — | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Griswold School District | — | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Griswold High School | — | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— | 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.