Compare towns
Orange vs Plainfield vs Upton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Upton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
15,141 |
8,189Lowest |
18,949Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Orange 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and Upton 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 76% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$994±$860 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 188% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Upton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.