Compare towns
Orange vs Preston vs Orange
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 | Preston | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
4,821Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| 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 |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$116,648±$27kLowest 22% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$361,900±$13kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Preston School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| 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.