Compare towns
Orange vs Monroe vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($417k median).
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 | Orange | Monroe | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
18,949 |
52,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -1.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
| Milford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±1.4Lowest 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+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
50.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$110,669±$7kLowest 16% 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 | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$416,800±$9kLowest 14% 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 | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,882±$80 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,694Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.3%±7.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
75.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Milford 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #98 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Monroe School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District |
| High school in town | — | Masuk High School | Jonathan Law High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.