Compare towns

Willimantic vs Stepney vs Monroe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

MeasureWillimanticStepneyMonroe
People
Population
18,096
3,979Lowest
18,949Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
47.1±5.6Highest
15% above CT
43.5±2.2
6% 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
20.6%±2.5Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.1%±5.6
CT: 20.2%
25.2%±3Highest
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+
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.7%±4.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
15.6%±2
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+
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
54.2%
CT: 42.5%
57.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±5.4
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$153,966±$16k
61% above CT
$157,250±$12kHighest
64% 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
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$475,800±$53k
30% above CT
$503,200±$31kHighest
37% 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
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$2,750±$1kHighest
85% above CT
$994±$860Lowest
33% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
$9,309
40% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
63.2%±48.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
48.8%±46.4Lowest
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
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
0.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
2.6%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
96.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
95.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1978
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
12% below CT
37 minHighest
41% above CT
34 min
29% above CT
Work from home
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
9.8%±4.3
CT: 16%
15.4%±3.3Highest
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.