Compare towns

Orange vs Mendon vs Monroe

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
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.

MeasureOrangeMendonMonroe
People
Population
14,315
6,325Lowest
18,949Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.6±2.4Highest
17% above U.S.
44.1±4.4
13% above U.S.
43.5±2.2Lowest
12% above U.S.
Orange and Mendon 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%
22.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.2%±3Highest
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%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.6%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mendon 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±$10k
76% above U.S.
$132,256±$33kLowest
64% above U.S.
$157,250±$12kHighest
95% above U.S.
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±$17kLowest
48% above U.S.
$616,000±$37kHighest
85% above U.S.
$503,200±$31k
51% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
54% above U.S.
$1,840±$196
30% above U.S.
$994±$860Lowest
30% below U.S.
Orange and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988
188% above U.S.
$7,213Lowest
131% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
78.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±46.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon 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%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.4%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #210 of 282 in MA #48 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Mendon-Upton 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

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.