Compare towns
Monroe vs Orange vs Putnam 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).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Orange | Putnam | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
14,315 |
9,292Lowest |
17,706 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% 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% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 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±$10k 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below 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 |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below 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 |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below 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 |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
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.