Compare towns
Stepney vs Orange vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the most homeowners (96.4%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Stepney | Orange | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
14,315Highest |
7,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$142,325±$10kLowest 49% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
| Durham and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
| Stepney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Regional School District 13 |
| High school in town | — | — | Coginchaug Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.