Compare towns
Tolland vs Willimantic vs Monroe vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Tolland | Willimantic | Monroe | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,606 |
18,096 |
18,949Highest |
14,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.4±2.5 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 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+ | 15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.2% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,264±$16k 39% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% 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 | $365,500±$21k about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% 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 | $1,680±$119 13% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,403 11% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Tolland 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 | #60 of 149 in CT | — | #48 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Tolland School District | — | Monroe School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Tolland High School | — | Masuk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
— | 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.