Compare towns
Durham vs Monroe vs Orange vs Marlborough
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Orange has the most renters (10.8% rent).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
18,949Highest |
14,315 |
6,130Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
41.8±4.7Lowest about the CT average |
| Orange and Durham 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% |
23.6%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Marlborough 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% |
16.3%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Durham 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% |
45.9%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%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Monroe 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 |
$142,105±$35kLowest 48% 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 |
$379,100±$33kLowest 3% 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 | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$7,397Lowest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Marlborough 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% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Durham 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 | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Marlborough School District |
| 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.