Compare towns
Old Lyme vs Orange vs Redding
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Old Lyme has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k 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 | Old Lyme | Orange | Redding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,679Lowest |
14,315Highest |
8,780 |
| Median age | 50.6±3.3 23% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
| Redding and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Old Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.4%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,899±$11kLowest 38% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,200±$21kLowest 32% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,238±$295Highest 50% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$2,101±$304Lowest 41% above CT |
| Old Lyme and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,284Lowest 5% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±17.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 2 yrs older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
| Work from home | 24.2%±5.7 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Redding and Old Lyme 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 | #10 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 18 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 |
| High school in town | Lyme-Old Lyme High School | None in town | Joel Barlow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.