What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).

Madison 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monroe	Madison
People
Population	18,949Highest	17,616Lowest
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT	51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT
Kids under 18	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5%	72.4%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1%
	Madison 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±$12kLowest 64% above CT	$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT
	Madison 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±$31kLowest 37% above CT	$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$2,025±$741Highest 36% above CT
	Madison and Monroe 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	$8,843Lowest 33% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6%	44%±12.3Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Monroe and Madison 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%	3.6%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	90.4%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	30 minLowest 12% above CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%	30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	#7 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Madison School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	Daniel Hand High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.