Compare towns
Durham vs Monroe vs Orange vs Harwinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Orange has the most renters (10.8% rent).
Harwinton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Durham | Monroe | Orange | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
18,949Highest |
14,315 |
5,575Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.1±4.3Highest 12% above CT |
| Harwinton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 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+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$129,643±$18kLowest 35% above CT |
| Durham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$352,100±$16kLowest 4% below CT |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$5,503Lowest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest 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 | 3.4% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
4.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Masuk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.