Compare towns
Guilford vs Orange vs Thompson
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 youngest population (median age 45.6).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,108Highest |
14,315 |
9,337Lowest |
| Median age | 51.1±1.9 24% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Thompson and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 26.6%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Guilford and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 | $137,816±$11k 44% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Orange and Guilford 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below 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 |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,744 32% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Guilford 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 | #15 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Guilford School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Guilford High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.