Compare towns
Monroe vs Preston 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).
Preston has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Orange has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
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 | Preston | Orange | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
4,821Lowest |
14,315 |
17,706 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest 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% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above 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 |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$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 |
$1,433±$1k 4% below 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% 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% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
4.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 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 |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Preston School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | None in town | None in town | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 12.7Lowest |
| 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.