What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).

Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.

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

Measure	Monroe	Norwich
People
Population	18,949Lowest	39,973Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.9% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT	38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT
Kids under 18	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	20.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Monroe and Norwich 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%	16.9%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5%
	Norwich 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%	23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Norwich 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	$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT
	Norwich 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	$4,703Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6%
	Norwich 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%	16.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	24 minLowest 9% below CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16%	7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	#133 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	Norwich Free Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	14.8Highest
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.