Compare towns
Orange vs Bethany vs Pomfret vs Orange
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).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 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 | Bethany | Pomfret | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
5,288 |
4,317Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
42.5±2.9Lowest 3% above CT |
45.9±3.7Highest 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Pomfret and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.1%±4.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Pomfret and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
58% CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$108,476±$8kLowest 13% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above 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 |
$409,100±$28kLowest 12% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
— | $1,210±$300Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$8,313 25% above CT |
$5,903Lowest 11% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61.9%±15.3 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.2%±5.2 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Pomfret School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.