Compare towns
Orange vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
9,292 |
3,676Lowest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Washington 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
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.