Compare towns
Orange vs West Haven vs Windham
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).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | West Haven | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Lowest |
55,351Highest |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and West Haven 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 |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windham 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% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | West Haven High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.