Compare towns
Orange vs Plainfield vs Suffield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Suffield | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
15,141 |
15,702 |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
| Orange and Suffield 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Suffield 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
10.9 |
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.