Compare towns
Barkhamsted vs Orange vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Barkhamsted | Orange | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,678Lowest |
14,315 |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,544±$9k 29% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Orange and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $368,000±$15k about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$114 22% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,354 4% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted 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 | #63 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Barkhamsted School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.