Compare towns
Monroe vs Redding vs Orange vs Sandy Hook
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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sandy Hook has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Redding | Orange | Sandy Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
8,780Lowest |
14,315 |
9,863 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 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%±2 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25k 68% above CT |
| Redding and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$491,500±$17kLowest 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
| Orange and Redding 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988Lowest 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Orange 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Monroe School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.