Compare towns
Monroe vs Bethlehem vs Orange vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Monroe | Bethlehem | Orange | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
3,423Lowest |
14,315 |
14,606 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 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+ | 15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Tolland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$133,264±$16k 39% 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 | $503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$7,403 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 14 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | None in town | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.4Lowest |
| 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.