Compare towns
Orange vs Beacon Falls vs Canton vs Monroe
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Beacon Falls | Canton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
6,147Lowest |
10,144 |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
| Beacon Falls 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% |
18%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest 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%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Beacon Falls 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 |
$101,516±$42kLowest 6% above CT |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% 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 |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% below CT |
$395,300±$24k 8% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% 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 |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Orange and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$6,534Lowest about the CT average |
$7,232 9% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
33 min 23% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton and Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 16 | Canton School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School | Canton High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
9.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.