Compare towns
Orange vs Plainfield vs Putnam vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Plainfield | Putnam | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
15,141Highest |
9,292Lowest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.