What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Monroe	Orange
People
Population	18,949Highest	14,315Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.3% CT: +0.9%
Median age	43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT	45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT
	Orange and Monroe 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%	22.9%±2.5Lowest 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%	23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5%	59.4%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.5%±2Highest 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	$142,325±$10kLowest 49% 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±$31kHighest 37% above CT	$491,500±$17kLowest 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	$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT	$8,988Lowest 35% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.8%±46.4Lowest 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%	3.9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above CT	28 minLowest 4% above CT
Work from home	15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16%	15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16%
	Orange and Monroe 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
School district	Monroe School District	—
High school in town	Masuk High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.