Compare towns

Monroe vs Thompson vs Brookfield

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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Brookfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureMonroeThompsonBrookfield
People
Population
18,949Highest
9,337Lowest
17,706
Median age
43.5±2.2Lowest
6% above CT
54.1±2.2Highest
32% above CT
44.3±1.8
8% above CT
Kids under 18
25.2%±3Highest
CT: 20.2%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.7%±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%±2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.4%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.8%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Thompson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.3%
CT: 42.5%
21.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
58.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.3%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Monroe and Brookfield 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
$148,360±$11k
55% above CT
Monroe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$503,200±$31kHighest
37% above CT
$291,900±$24kLowest
20% below CT
$479,700±$24k
31% above CT
Monroe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$994±$860Lowest
33% below CT
$1,012±$344
32% below CT
$1,892±$183Highest
27% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$3,822Lowest
42% below CT
$7,594
14% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±46.4
CT: 52.6%
54%±18.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
35.9%±13.1Lowest
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%
4.1%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
84.3%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.5%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1963Lowest
4 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above CT
32 min
20% above CT
28 minLowest
6% above CT
Work from home
15.4%±3.3
CT: 16%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
CT: 16%
16.3%±3Highest
CT: 16%
Brookfield 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 #130 of 149 in CT #67 of 149 in CT
School district Monroe School District Thompson School District Brookfield School District
High school in town Masuk High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School Brookfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
7.9Lowest
12.7
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.