Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Killingly vs Orange vs New Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (25.2%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Bridgewater | Killingly | Orange | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,658Lowest |
17,867 |
14,315 |
28,334Highest |
| Median age | 55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
42.1±1.9 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.3% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$106,411±$8k 11% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$391,500±$10k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$233 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,609±$152 8% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,869 3% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,150 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
7.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
80.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
15.1%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.