What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Southwick has the most affordable homes ($398k 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	Southwick
People
Population	18,949Highest	9,217Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S.
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 22%	18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Monroe and Southwick 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 95% above U.S.	$120,462±$16kLowest 49% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 51% above U.S.	$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,332±$72Highest 6% below U.S.
	Southwick 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 221% above U.S.	$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Southwick 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.	1978 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Southwick and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	#211 of 282 in MA
School district	Monroe School District	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	Southwick Regional School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.