Compare towns
Bethany vs Orange vs Pomfret vs Durham
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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Pomfret has the most renters (19.5% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Orange | Pomfret | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
14,315Highest |
4,317Lowest |
7,208 |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
45.9±3.7Highest 12% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
| Pomfret and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Pomfret 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Pomfret 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$108,476±$8kLowest 13% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% 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±$42k 14% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$409,100±$28kLowest 12% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,210±$300 19% below CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313 25% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Pomfret 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Pomfret School District | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.