Compare towns
Orange vs Plainfield vs Washington
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Plainfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315 |
15,141Highest |
3,676Lowest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Lowest 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%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Orange 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.