Compare towns
Orange vs Berlin 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Berlin | Canton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
20,361Highest |
10,144Lowest |
18,949 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
| Berlin 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% |
19.4%±2.7Lowest 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%±3.1Highest 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% |
44.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.2% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Orange 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 |
$113,598±$11kLowest 19% 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 |
$374,600±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$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 |
$1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,403±$358 6% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$7,291 10% above CT |
$7,232Lowest 9% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3 CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Berlin School District | Canton School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Berlin High School | Canton High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
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.