Compare towns
Monroe vs Hamden vs Stepney 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).
Hamden has the most affordable homes ($298k median).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Hamden | Stepney | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949 |
61,045Highest |
3,979Lowest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Stepney 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Stepney 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 |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Monroe and Stepney 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 |
$298,200±$9kLowest 19% below CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| 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 |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% 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 |
$7,784Lowest 17% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest 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% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | — | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Hamden High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.