Compare towns
Killingly vs Orange vs Monroe vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Killingly | Orange | Monroe | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
14,315Lowest |
18,949Highest |
17,551 |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Orange and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below 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 | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% 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 | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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 | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Monroe 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Monroe School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Masuk High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.