Compare towns
Monroe vs Bridgewater vs Orange vs Stepney
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).
Stepney has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
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 | Stepney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
1,658Lowest |
14,315 |
3,979 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
| Bridgewater and Stepney 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% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Bridgewater 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 |
$153,966±$16k 61% 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±$17k 34% above CT |
$475,800±$53kLowest 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,869Lowest 3% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$9,309 40% 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% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% CT: 10% |
3% CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest 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 | 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.