Compare towns
Monroe vs Redding vs Brookfield vs Tolland
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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Brookfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k 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.
| Measure | Monroe | Redding | Brookfield | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
8,780Lowest |
17,706 |
14,606 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Brookfield 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Redding and Brookfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Redding 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% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
28 minLowest 6% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Brookfield School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Joel Barlow High School | Brookfield High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.7 |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.