Compare towns
Milford vs Orange vs Stratford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Stratford has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Milford | Orange | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 52,684 |
14,315Lowest |
52,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
45.7±1.4 11% above CT |
| Milford and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Stratford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,669±$7k 16% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$95,815±$7kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,800±$9k 14% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$372,200±$8kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,882±$80 26% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,706±$75Lowest 15% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,694Lowest about the CT average |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,420 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±7.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
59.3%±7.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 2 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1958Lowest 9 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Milford 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 | #98 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #134 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District | — | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | Jonathan Law High School | — | Stratford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.