Compare towns
Orange vs Thompson vs Windsor Locks vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Thompson | Windsor Locks | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,337Lowest |
12,579 |
18,949Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District | Windsor Locks School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Windsor Locks High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
8.9 |
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.