Compare towns
Orange vs Middletown vs Plainfield
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).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Middletown | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
47,958Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Plainfield 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Middletown 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% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Middletown 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Middletown High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.