Compare towns
West Haven vs Manchester vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | West Haven | Manchester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351 |
59,635Highest |
14,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above CT |
$5,652Lowest 15% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1964Highest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Manchester 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | — |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | Manchester High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.