Compare towns
Stepney vs Orange vs Durham vs Easton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Easton has the most expensive homes ($783k 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 | Stepney | Orange | Durham | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979Lowest |
14,315Highest |
7,208 |
7,670 |
| 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±2.8 11% above CT |
45±3.8Lowest 9% 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%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Easton and Orange 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%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.7%±3.3Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
73.1%Highest 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% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Easton 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±$7k 66% above CT |
$222,604±$46kHighest 132% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$424,800±$23kLowest 16% above CT |
$783,100±$51kHighest 113% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1k 85% above CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$3,205±$1kHighest 115% above CT |
| Easton and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309 40% above CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$7,998Lowest 20% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
21.8%±12.5Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
6.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
88.1%Lowest 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 |
1974 7 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 |
33 min 24% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
21.3%±5.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Easton and Durham 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 | #9 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Regional School District 13 | Easton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.