Compare towns

Orange vs Putnam vs Brooklyn

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 expensive homes ($492k median).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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.

MeasureOrangePutnamBrooklyn
People
Population
14,315Highest
7,120Lowest
8,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
45.6±2.4Highest
11% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
45.6±2.5Highest
11% above CT
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.9%±4.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Brooklyn 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%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
Orange and Brooklyn 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%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
Orange and Brooklyn 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
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
$96,207±$15k
about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$315,200±$28k
14% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,147±$43
23% below CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
Orange and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above CT
25 minLowest
5% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
15.6%±2.9Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
Orange and Brooklyn 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 #128 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 — Brooklyn School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.