Compare towns
Monroe vs Orange vs Sprague
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).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Orange | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
14,315 |
2,962Lowest |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague 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% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Sprague 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% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$92,850±$11kLowest 3% below 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±$17k 34% above CT |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below 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 |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest 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% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.