Compare towns
Orange vs Harvard vs Monroe vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | Harvard | Monroe | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
6,927Lowest |
18,949 |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2 12% above U.S. |
35.8±1.5Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Orange and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12k 95% above U.S. |
$74,382±$5kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
$291,700±$9kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,442±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 188% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,941Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #48 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Harvard | Monroe School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Masuk High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
12.8 |
15.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.