Compare towns
Milford vs Suffield vs Orange vs West Haven
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 oldest population (median age 46.6).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | Suffield | Orange | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 52,684 |
15,702 |
14,315Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Milford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,669±$7k 16% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Orange and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,800±$9k 14% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,882±$80 26% above CT |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,694 about the CT average |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±7.3 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 2 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Milford 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District | Suffield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Jonathan Law High School | Suffield High School | None in town | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
10.9 |
— | 15.6Highest |
| 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.