Compare towns
Barkhamsted vs Orange vs Putnam vs Andover
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).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Putnam | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,678 |
14,315Highest |
9,292 |
3,152Lowest |
| Median age | 50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest 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% |
19.2%±5.1 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% |
46.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest 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 | $123,544±$9k 29% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$134,632±$20k 41% above 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 | $368,000±$15k about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$376,500±$36k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$114 22% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,166±$745 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,354 4% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,554 about the CT average |
| 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% |
60.8%±38.4 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 | 3.6% CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest 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 |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4 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 | #43 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Barkhamsted School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.