Compare towns
Durham vs Orange vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Guilford has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Durham | Orange | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Lowest |
14,315 |
22,108Highest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
51.1±1.9Highest 24% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.8%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$137,816±$11kLowest 44% above CT |
| Durham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
| Guilford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,717±$128 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$8,744 32% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Guilford and Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #15 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Guilford School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Guilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.