Compare towns
West Haven vs Willimantic vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Plainfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,351Highest |
18,096 |
15,141 |
14,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Plainfield 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | — | Plainfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | West Haven High School | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.