Compare towns
Orange vs Willimantic vs Orange 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
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Orange | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
18,096 |
14,315Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 15.6 |
| 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.