Compare towns
Orange vs Putnam vs Washington vs Brookfield
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%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,292 |
3,676Lowest |
17,706Highest |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% 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% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±2.8 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% |
58.3% 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% |
4.3%±1.4 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±$10k 49% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$7,594 14% above 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% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Brookfield 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 | #67 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District | Regional School District 12 | Brookfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Shepaug Valley School | Brookfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
9.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.