Compare towns

Orange vs Willimantic 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 highest household income ($142k).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Milford has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureOrangeWillimanticMilford
People
Population
14,315Lowest
18,096
52,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
-1.4%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.6±2.4
11% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below 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%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
17.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Willimantic 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%
11%±1.7Lowest
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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
50.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
5%±0.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,325±$10kHighest
49% above CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$110,669±$7k
16% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17kHighest
34% above CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$416,800±$9k
14% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,882±$80
26% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
$6,694
about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
51.3%±7.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Orange and Willimantic 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%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
5.1%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
75.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
3 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1965Highest
2 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
25 min
4% below CT
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
17.7%±1.8Highest
CT: 16%
Milford and Orange 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 — #98 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Milford School District
High school in town None in town — Jonathan Law High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.8
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.