Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Monroe vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (25.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Bridgewater | Monroe | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
18,949Highest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17kLowest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869Lowest 3% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | None in town |
| 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.