Compare towns
Orange vs Stepney vs Monroe vs Tolland
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Stepney | Monroe | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
3,979Lowest |
18,949Highest |
14,606 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
| Stepney 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 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Stepney 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% |
54.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
56.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Tolland 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 |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
| Monroe and Stepney 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 |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
| 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±$161 46% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,680±$119 13% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$9,309 40% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland 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 | — | #48 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Monroe School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Masuk High School | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
12.4Lowest |
| 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.