Compare towns

Monroe vs Willimantic vs Stepney

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 people working from home (15.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).

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.

MeasureMonroeWillimanticStepney
People
Population
18,949Highest
18,096
3,979Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
43.5±2.2
6% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
47.1±5.6Highest
15% above CT
Stepney 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%
20.6%±2.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.1%±5.6
CT: 20.2%
Monroe and Stepney 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%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.7%±4.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
Stepney 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
CT: 42.5%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
54.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±5.4
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$157,250±$12kHighest
64% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$153,966±$16k
61% above CT
Monroe and Stepney 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
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$475,800±$53k
30% above CT
Monroe and Stepney 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
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$2,750±$1kHighest
85% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
$9,309
40% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±46.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
63.2%±48.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Stepney and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
0.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.7%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
96.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
11 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
29% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
37 minHighest
41% above CT
Work from home
15.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
9.8%±4.3
CT: 16%
Monroe and Stepney 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 — —
School district Monroe School District — —
High school in town Masuk High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— —
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.