Compare towns

Orange vs Griswold 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 highest household income ($142k).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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.

MeasureOrangeGriswoldWest Haven
People
Population
14,315
11,530Lowest
55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
0%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.6±2.4
11% above CT
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
35.8±1.5Lowest
13% below CT
Griswold and Orange 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%
18.5%±3.7Lowest
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%
17.8%±3.5
CT: 18.5%
16%±1.3Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Orange and Griswold 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%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
13.6%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
$74,382±$5kLowest
22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$275,900±$42kLowest
25% below CT
$291,700±$9k
20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,177±$65Lowest
21% below CT
$1,442±$43
3% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$4,628Lowest
30% below CT
$6,941
4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±5.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Orange and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
7.6%
CT: 10%
14.1%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.3%
CT: 66.5%
50.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than CT
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
31 minHighest
17% above CT
23 minLowest
14% below CT
Work from home
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
CT: 16%
9.2%±1.4
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT #120 of 149 in CT
School district — Griswold School District New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town — Griswold High School West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Lowest
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.