Compare towns
Monroe vs Plainville vs Redding
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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Plainville | Redding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
17,551 |
8,780Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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±$12k 64% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Plainville High School | Joel Barlow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.