Compare towns
Stepney vs Middletown vs Monroe vs Barkhamsted
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Stepney | Middletown | Monroe | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979 |
47,958Highest |
18,949 |
3,678Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 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+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$123,544±$9k 29% 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 | $475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$295,300±$11kLowest 20% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$368,000±$15k about the CT average |
| Monroe and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,164±$114 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309 40% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,354Lowest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted 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 | — | #121 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Monroe School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | — | Middletown High School | Masuk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.