Compare towns
Monroe vs Mansfield vs Stepney
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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949 |
25,358Highest |
3,979Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
| Stepney 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Stepney 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Stepney 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% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$153,966±$16k 61% 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 |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% below CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
| Monroe and Stepney 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Mansfield 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 |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | E. O. Smith High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.