Compare towns

Orange vs Redding vs Stepney

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).

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.

MeasureOrangeReddingStepney
People
Population
14,315Highest
8,780
3,979Lowest
Median age
45.6±2.4Lowest
11% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
47.1±5.6
15% above CT
Redding and Stepney 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%
19.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.1%±5.6
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Stepney 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%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.7%±4.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Redding 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%
CT: 42.5%
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
54.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±5.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
Stepney 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±$10kLowest
49% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$153,966±$16k
61% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17k
34% above CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$475,800±$53kLowest
30% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161
46% above CT
$2,101±$304Lowest
41% above CT
$2,750±$1kHighest
85% above CT
Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Lowest
35% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$9,309
40% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
63.2%±48.8Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Redding and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%
CT: 10%
4%Highest
CT: 10%
0.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
96.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above CT
36 min
36% above CT
37 minHighest
41% above CT
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
9.8%±4.3Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT —
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Redding School District · Regional School District 09 —
High school in town None in town Joel Barlow High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
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.