Compare towns
Washington vs Orange vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($411k 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 | Washington | Orange | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676 |
14,315Highest |
3,423Lowest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$410,900±$36kLowest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
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| 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.