Compare towns
Brookfield vs Monroe vs Plainfield vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Brookfield | Monroe | Plainfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
18,949Highest |
15,141 |
14,315Lowest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Monroe and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 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 | 4.1% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield and Orange 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Monroe School District | Plainfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Masuk High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.