Compare towns
Orange vs Durham 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
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Orange | Durham | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315 |
7,208Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Orange and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Durham 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 |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$6,941Lowest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest 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 | 3.9% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 13 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | — | Coginchaug Regional High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.