Compare towns
Stepney vs Orange vs Windham vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Orange has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Stepney | Orange | Windham | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
14,315 |
23,961Highest |
18,949 |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 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+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% 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 | $475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% 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 | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309 40% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windham High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.