Compare towns
Bristol vs Orange vs Naugatuck
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Bristol | Orange | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
14,315Lowest |
31,800 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
32.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,369±$58 8% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,362 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Naugatuck 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | None in town | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
— | 15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.