Compare towns
Orange vs Chaplin vs Putnam vs Milford
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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Milford has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
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 | Chaplin | Putnam | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
52,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -1.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
| Milford 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±1.4 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%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Milford 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Orange 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 |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$110,669±$7k 16% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$416,800±$9k 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,882±$80 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,694 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
51.3%±7.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Milford 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% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Milford 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #98 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | Jonathan Law High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
10.8Highest |
| 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.