What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).

Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).

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	Webster
People
Population	18,949Highest	17,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.2Highest 12% above U.S.	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Monroe and Webster 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%	19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Monroe and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster 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%	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster 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±$12kHighest 95% above U.S.	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$503,200±$31kHighest 51% above U.S.	$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.
	Webster 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.	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Monroe and Webster 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%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 149 in CT	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Monroe School District	Webster
High school in town	Masuk High School	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.6Lowest
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.