Compare towns
Orange vs Durham vs Putnam vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Durham | Putnam | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
7,208Lowest |
9,292 |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Durham 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 |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.5Highest |
— |
| 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.