Compare towns
Hamden 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
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Hamden | Monroe | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
18,949 |
14,315Lowest |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5Lowest 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+ | 18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above 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 | $1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | Masuk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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| 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.