What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Thompson
People
Population	18,949Highest	9,337Lowest
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Monroe and Thompson 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	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT	$1,012±$344Highest 32% below CT
	Thompson 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	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	32 minLowest 20% above CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Monroe and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Monroe School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Masuk High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	7.9Lowest
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.