Compare towns
Lunenburg 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
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Lunenburg | Monroe | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267Highest |
786Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 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+ | 24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lunenburg and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below 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 | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702 13% below U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,545Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Monroe School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.