Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Orange vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Bethlehem | Orange | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
14,315Highest |
3,676 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.