Compare towns
Columbia vs Coventry vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Columbia | Coventry | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
12,326 |
14,315Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
45.4±3.8Lowest 10% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Columbia and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$108,213±$5kLowest 13% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Orange and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$330,000±$23kLowest 10% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1966 1 yr older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Coventry 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Coventry School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Coventry High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.