Compare towns
Lancaster vs Monroe vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 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 | Lancaster | Monroe | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
18,949Highest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2 12% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Orange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5 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+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161 54% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,988 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nashoba | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Masuk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.