Compare towns
Milford vs Stratford vs Orange
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%).
Stratford has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Stratford | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 52,684 |
52,790Highest |
14,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
45.7±1.4 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 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% |
18.3%±1.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
20.7%±1.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest 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% |
37.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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 |
$95,815±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,800±$9k 14% above CT |
$372,200±$8kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,882±$80 26% above CT |
$1,706±$75Lowest 15% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,694Lowest about the CT average |
$7,420 12% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±7.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.3%±7.7 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest 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% |
6.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 2 yrs older than CT |
1958Lowest 9 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
14.6%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 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 | #134 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District | Stratford School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Jonathan Law High School | Stratford High School | None in town |
| 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.