Compare towns
Orange vs Norwalk 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
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Norwalk has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
West Haven has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Norwalk | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
92,187Highest |
55,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
40.6±1 about the CT average |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±1.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and West Haven 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%±1 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.8% CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$107,616±$7k 12% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$558,000±$21kHighest 52% above CT |
$291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,073±$87 39% above CT |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
| Orange and Norwalk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$7,817 18% above CT |
$6,941Lowest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.1%±5.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and West Haven 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% |
9.1% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±1.4 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Norwalk 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 | #112 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Norwalk School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brien McMahon High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Lowest |
15.6Highest |
| 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.