Compare towns
Tolland vs Orange vs New Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tolland has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
New Fairfield has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Tolland | Orange | New Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,606Highest |
14,315 |
13,584Lowest |
| Median age | 41.4±2.5Lowest about the CT average |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
42.9±3.5 4% above CT |
| Orange and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
25.1%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| New Fairfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.2% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
48.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| New Fairfield and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,264±$16kLowest 39% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$137,647±$14k 44% above CT |
| Orange and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,500±$21kLowest about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$484,800±$17k 32% above CT |
| Orange and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$119Lowest 13% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,896±$280 27% above CT |
| Orange and New Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,403Lowest 11% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$8,224 24% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
43.2%±17.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
42 minHighest 60% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Tolland and New Fairfield 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 | #60 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #49 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Tolland School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | New Fairfield School District |
| High school in town | Tolland High School | None in town | New Fairfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.