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Moving to
Orange.
Orange is an unincorporated community in the county, CT. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Orange
Orange is an unincorporated community in Connecticut with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Orange deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Orange compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Orange
Based on Orange's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,344
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $86,880 a year
- 56% of Orange renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$98,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $49,150
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 54% above US
$2,172/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,172 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $491,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $491,500 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in South Central Connecticut Planning Region is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
South Central Connecticut Planning Region (county-wide)
Safety▼ 88% below US
42 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 3505/100k · Orange Police Department · 2024 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.5 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 20°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 65% above US
59% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Weir Farm National Historical Park (22 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Orange's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,172/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Orange
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