Compare towns

Orange vs Plainville vs Orange

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

MeasureOrangePlainvilleOrange
People
Population
14,315Lowest
17,551Highest
14,315Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.6±2.4Highest
11% above CT
44.3±1.5Lowest
8% above CT
45.6±2.4Highest
11% above CT
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
23%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
23%±2.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
59.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainville and Orange 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
$84,343±$7kLowest
12% below CT
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,126±$147Lowest
24% below CT
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$4,798Lowest
28% below CT
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.5%Highest
CT: 10%
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
28 minHighest
4% above CT
Work from home
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT #38 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Judicial Centers · Plainville School District —
High school in town None in town Plainville High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
—
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.