Compare towns
West Haven vs Orange vs Danbury
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 affordable homes ($292k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Orange | Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,351 |
14,315Lowest |
87,263Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
40.6±1.3 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.6%±1.4Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$83,393±$6k 13% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9kLowest 20% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$411,200±$12k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,846±$63 24% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,877Lowest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Danbury 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #137 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | None in town | Danbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Lowest |
— | 15.7Highest |
| 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.