Compare towns
Monroe vs Redding vs Plainville 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 most kids (25.2% under 18).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Orange has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
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 | Plainville | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
8,780Lowest |
17,551 |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 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% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $503,200±$31k 37% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 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% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Joel Barlow High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
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| 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.