Compare towns
Orange vs Willimantic vs Prospect 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 people working from home (15.6%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Prospect | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
18,096 |
9,458Lowest |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Prospect 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Orange and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Orange and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$6,941 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 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% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Prospect 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 | — | #50 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Regional School District 16 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 15.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.