Compare towns
Monroe vs Lyme vs Orange vs Granby
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Granby has the most affordable homes ($368k 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 | Lyme | Orange | Granby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
2,303Lowest |
14,315 |
11,184 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.7±3.2 9% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.2%±3.2 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% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Monroe 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 |
$135,000±$22k 41% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$120,275±$14kLowest 26% 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±$31k 37% above CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$367,900±$17kLowest about the CT average |
| Lyme and Monroe 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 |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,335±$169 10% below CT |
| Orange and Lyme 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 |
$7,328Lowest 10% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$8,376 26% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
29.6%±13.1Lowest 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% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90.8% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Granby and Lyme 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #54 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 18 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Granby School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | None in town | Granby Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.