Compare towns
Monroe vs Washington 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 highest household income ($157k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
3,676Lowest |
14,606 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Washington 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 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Tolland 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
| Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
| Washington and Monroe 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 |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland and Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 12 | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Shepaug Valley School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.1Lowest |
12.4 |
| 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.