Compare towns
Orange vs Chaplin vs Brookfield vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Orange | Chaplin | Brookfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
2,070Lowest |
17,706Highest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Brookfield 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #67 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Brookfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | Brookfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.