Compare towns
Guilford vs Orange vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guilford has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Cheshire has the most affordable homes ($440k 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 | Guilford | Orange | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,108 |
14,315Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 51.1±1.9Highest 24% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.9±1.4Lowest 9% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 60.6% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,816±$11kLowest 44% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $515,800±$40kHighest 41% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$440,000±$17kLowest 20% 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 | $1,717±$128 15% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,398±$116Lowest 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,744 32% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,755Lowest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest 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 | 2.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Guilford and Cheshire 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 | #15 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Guilford School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Guilford High School | None in town | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.