Compare towns
Orange vs Ridgefield vs Milford
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%).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k median).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($417k 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 | Ridgefield | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
25,109 |
52,684Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.4% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
45.1±1.4Lowest 10% above CT |
46.6±1.4Highest 13% above CT |
| Milford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
24.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ridgefield and Orange 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% |
18.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Milford 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% |
72.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Milford 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 |
$179,219±$12kHighest 87% above CT |
$110,669±$7kLowest 16% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$836,200±$26kHighest 128% above CT |
$416,800±$9kLowest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,026±$200 36% above CT |
$1,882±$80Lowest 26% above CT |
| Orange and Ridgefield 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 |
$6,694Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.3%±12 CT: 52.6% |
51.3%±7.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Ridgefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
3.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
75.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
33 minHighest 25% above CT |
25 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
29.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #4 of 149 in CT | #98 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Ridgefield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ridgefield High School | Jonathan Law High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.