Compare towns
Orange vs Orange vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Preston has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Orange | Orange | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
14,315Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Preston School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.