Compare towns
Orange vs Hamden 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
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hamden | Orange | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
61,045Highest |
14,315Lowest |
55,351 |
| 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 |
38.7±0.9 6% below 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% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 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% |
47.8% 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% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and West Haven 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 |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,784 17% 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% |
50.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | — | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | — | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
— | 15.6Highest |
| 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.