Compare towns
Orange vs Killingly vs Thomaston 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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Killingly | Thomaston | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
17,867 |
7,492Lowest |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,037±$147 30% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr 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 |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thomaston School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
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.