Compare towns
Orange vs Union vs Plainfield vs West Haven
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 highest household income ($142k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% 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 | Union | Plainfield | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
944Lowest |
15,141 |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and West Haven 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Orange 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Plainfield 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 | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Union School District | Plainfield School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Plainfield High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.