What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Monroe	Redding
People
Population	18,949Highest	8,780Lowest
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT	52±2Highest 27% above CT
Kids under 18	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5%	72.1%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Monroe and Redding 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	$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kLowest 37% above CT	$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT
	Redding and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT	$10,000+ at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest 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%	4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	91.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 29% above CT	36 minHighest 36% above CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%	32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	#14 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Redding School District · Regional School District 09
High school in town	Masuk High School	Joel Barlow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.1Lowest
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.