Compare towns
Orange vs Suffield vs Prospect 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 housing (typical home built 1964).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Prospect has the most affordable homes ($355k 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.
| Measure | Orange | Suffield | Prospect | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
15,702 |
9,458Lowest |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
| Prospect 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 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%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Orange 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Monroe 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 |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Orange and Prospect 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 |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$6,504 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% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest 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% |
4.6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2% CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Suffield School District | Regional School District 16 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
— | 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.