Compare towns
Bethany vs Durham vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Bethany | Durham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288Lowest |
7,208 |
14,315Highest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Orange and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kLowest 14% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.