Compare towns
Brooklyn vs Madison vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Brooklyn | Madison | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,517Lowest |
17,616Highest |
14,315 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.5Lowest 11% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Madison and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Madison and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Madison 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% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brooklyn School District | Madison School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Daniel Hand High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.