Compare towns
Monroe vs Mansfield vs Orange vs Brookfield
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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Orange | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949 |
25,358Highest |
14,315Lowest |
17,706 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$148,360±$11k 55% above CT |
| Monroe and Brookfield 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 |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% 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 |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield 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 |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Orange 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
| 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.