Compare towns
Douglas vs Monroe vs Orange vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Douglas | Monroe | Orange | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
18,949Highest |
14,315 |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,988 188% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Masuk High School | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.