Compare towns
Orange vs Beacon Falls vs Putnam
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).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Beacon Falls | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
6,147Lowest |
9,292 |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Beacon Falls 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%±4.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls 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% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Beacon Falls 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 |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Orange and Beacon Falls 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 |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,921±$286 29% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Orange and Beacon Falls 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 |
$6,534 about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Orange 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 16 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.