Compare towns
Monroe vs Hamden vs Brookfield vs New Fairfield
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 highest household income ($157k).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
New Fairfield has the most people working from home (18%).
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 | Hamden | Brookfield | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949 |
61,045Highest |
17,706 |
13,584Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
42.9±3.5 4% above CT |
| Brookfield 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
25.1%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and New Fairfield 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| New Fairfield 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% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
48.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$137,647±$14k 44% above CT |
| Monroe and Brookfield 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$484,800±$17k 32% above CT |
| Monroe and New Fairfield 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 |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$1,896±$280Highest 27% above CT |
| New Fairfield 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 |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$7,594Lowest 14% above CT |
$8,224 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
43.2%±17.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden 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% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
42 minHighest 60% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
18%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
| New Fairfield and Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Brookfield School District | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Hamden High School | Brookfield High School | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
12.7 |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.