Compare towns
Avon vs Monroe vs Orange vs Ridgefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
Monroe has the most homeowners (95.7%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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.
| Measure | Avon | Monroe | Orange | Ridgefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,946 |
18,949 |
14,315Lowest |
25,109Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.7 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.1±1.4 10% above CT |
| Orange and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.7%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
72.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Avon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,058±$13k 61% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
| Ridgefield and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$20kLowest 31% above CT |
$503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,857±$151 25% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
| Orange and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,371 41% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988Lowest 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
3.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
33 min 25% above CT |
| Work from home | 33.7%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Avon and Ridgefield 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 | #31 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Ridgefield School District |
| High school in town | Avon High School | Masuk High School | None in town | Ridgefield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.