Compare towns
Orange vs Bethlehem 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).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Bethlehem | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315 |
3,423Lowest |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem 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% |
16.3%±4Lowest 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Orange 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% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 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 |
$108,929±$16kLowest 14% 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 |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% 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 |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$5,932Lowest 11% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 14 | 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.