Compare towns
Monroe vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Orange
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
15,141 |
12,579Lowest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Windsor Locks 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windsor Locks 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.