Compare towns
Monroe vs Thompson vs Plainfield 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Orange has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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 | Thompson | Plainfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,949Highest |
9,337Lowest |
15,141 |
14,315 |
| Median age | 43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Thompson 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Monroe School District | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Masuk High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.