Compare towns

Orange vs Redding vs West Haven

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 kids (22.9% under 18).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% 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.

MeasureOrangeReddingWest Haven
People
Population
14,315
8,780Lowest
55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
0%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.6±2.4
11% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
35.8±1.5Lowest
13% below CT
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.3%±1.9
CT: 20.2%
Orange and West Haven 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%
16%±1.3Lowest
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%
30.5%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
13.6%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,325±$10k
49% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$74,382±$5kLowest
22% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17k
34% above CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$291,700±$9kLowest
20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$2,101±$304
41% above CT
$1,442±$43Lowest
3% below CT
Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988
35% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$6,941Lowest
4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
53.4%±5.8Lowest
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%Lowest
CT: 10%
4%
CT: 10%
14.1%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
23 minLowest
14% below CT
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
9.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT #120 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Redding School District · Regional School District 09 New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town None in town Joel Barlow High School West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
15.6Highest
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.