Compare towns
Orange vs Plainfield vs Thompson
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315 |
15,141Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Thompson 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.