What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).

Monroe has the most expensive homes ($503k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Tolland	Monroe
People
Population	14,606Lowest	18,949Highest
Median age	41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average	43.5±2.2Highest 6% above CT
	Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±3Lowest CT: 20.2%	25.2%±3Highest 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+	15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5%	15.6%±2Highest CT: 18.5%
	Monroe and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%	57.3%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1%	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Tolland and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT	$157,250±$12kHighest 64% 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	$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average	$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT	$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT
	Tolland and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,403Lowest 11% above CT	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6%	48.8%±46.4Lowest 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	5.3%Highest CT: 10%	2.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest CT: 66.5%	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT	1978Lowest 11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 20% above CT	34 minHighest 29% above CT
Work from home	20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16%	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%
	Tolland 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	#60 of 149 in CT	#48 of 149 in CT
School district	Tolland School District	Monroe School District
High school in town	Tolland High School	Masuk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.