Compare towns
Monroe vs Bridgewater vs Orange
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 most kids (25.2% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (25.2%).
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 | Monroe | Bridgewater | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
1,658Lowest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater 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±$12k 64% above CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$491,500±$17kLowest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,869Lowest 3% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest 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 | 2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 12 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.