Compare towns
Durham vs Orange vs Stepney vs Marlborough
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Orange has the most renters (10.8% rent).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,208 |
14,315Highest |
3,979Lowest |
6,130 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
41.8±4.7Lowest about the CT average |
| Stepney and Orange 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%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Stepney 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% |
45.9%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% |
5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Orange 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 |
$142,105±$35kLowest 48% 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 |
$379,100±$33kLowest 3% above 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 |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| 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 |
$7,397Lowest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36 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% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough 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 | — | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Marlborough School District |
| 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.