Compare towns
Orange vs Wilbraham 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).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Wilbraham | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
14,572 |
18,949Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Orange and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and Wilbraham 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% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Wilbraham 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. |
$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| 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 48% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 188% above U.S. |
$6,658Lowest 113% 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% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 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 |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Monroe 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Hampden-Wilbraham | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.