Compare towns
Orange vs Bethany 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).
Bethany has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Bethany | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315 |
5,288Lowest |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
| Orange and Monroe 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% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest 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%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Bethany 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% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany 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±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
| Bethany and Monroe 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 |
$418,000±$42kLowest 14% 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 |
— | $994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$8,313Lowest 25% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.