Compare towns
Orange vs Sutton vs Plainville 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 population (median age 45.6).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Sutton | Plainville | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,452Lowest |
17,551 |
18,949Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Orange and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Plainville 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 188% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Monroe 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainville High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
11.4Lowest |
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.