Compare towns
Monroe vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
9,292Lowest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% 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 |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% 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 |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 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 |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Putnam School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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| 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.