Compare towns

Barkhamsted 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

Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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.

MeasureBarkhamstedOrangePutnam
People
Population
3,678Lowest
14,315Highest
9,292
Median age
50.2±3.3Highest
22% above CT
45.6±2.4
11% above CT
43.7±3Lowest
6% 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%±3.9Lowest
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+
27.2%±7.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
23%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
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%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2.7
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Orange and Barkhamsted 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
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% 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
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,164±$114
22% below CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,354
4% below CT
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.8%±35.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
3.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
3.9%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
89.2%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above CT
28 min
4% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
20.3%±7.1Highest
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
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 #128 of 149 in CT
School district Barkhamsted 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.