Compare towns
Monroe vs Orange vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MonroeFlorida
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Orange has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Rowe has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Orange | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 122Lowest |
7,573Highest |
453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Monroe and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±28Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±27.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Monroe and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$69,583±$13kHighest 33% below MA |
| Rowe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
$275,000±$41kHighest 51% below MA |
| Rowe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,053 66% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Orange and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
22.4% MA: 10% |
15.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 56 minHighest 93% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rowe 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.