Compare towns
Monroe vs Southwick vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Southwick has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Southwick | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
9,217Lowest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Southwick 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 95% above U.S. |
$120,462±$16kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
| 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 30% below U.S. |
$1,332±$72 6% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,988 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Southwick 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 | #211 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Southwick Regional School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.