What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most people working from home (15.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orange	Preston
People
Population	14,315Highest	4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	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%	18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Orange and Preston 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%	23%±4.7 CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1%	4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Orange and Preston 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	$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT
	Orange and Preston 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	$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT	$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT
	Orange and Preston 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	$4,749Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6%	52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Orange and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Highest CT: 10%	2.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%	91.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT	1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above CT	22 minLowest 17% below CT
Work from home	15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16%	10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16%
	Orange and Preston 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	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Preston School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.