Compare towns
Orange vs Durham vs Putnam 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 population (median age 45.6).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Durham | Putnam | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
7,208Lowest |
9,292 |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
| Orange and Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 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 |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
| Durham 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 |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below 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 |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.5 |
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.