Compare towns
Andover vs Orange vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Andover | Orange | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
14,315Highest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Andover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20k 41% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Orange and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36k about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Andover 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.