Compare towns
Orange vs Morris vs Plainfield vs Brookfield
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).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Morris | Plainfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
2,164Lowest |
15,141 |
17,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
| Morris 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% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Morris and Orange 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% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% 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 |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$134Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,273 21% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Morris 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% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
| Morris 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 20 | Plainfield School District | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Plainfield High School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Lowest |
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.