Compare towns
Durham vs Orange vs Stepney vs Harwinton
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 people working from home (20.5%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Harwinton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Durham | Orange | Stepney | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
14,315Highest |
3,979Lowest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
46.1±4.3 12% above CT |
| Stepney and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Stepney 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%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Harwinton 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 |
$153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$129,643±$18kLowest 35% above CT |
| Durham and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$352,100±$16kLowest 4% below CT |
| Orange and Stepney 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±$161 46% above CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998 20% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,503Lowest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney 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% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Orange 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 | — | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.