Compare towns
Orange vs Bethany 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
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Bethany | Orange | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
5,288Lowest |
14,315 |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest 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% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Bethany and Orange 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 |
$418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
— | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,941Lowest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | — | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | None 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.