Cost of Living in Orange, CT

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An Overview of Cost of Living in Orange, CT

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Orange? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Orange stands at 136, making it 36% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Orange may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Orange falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

When it comes to the cost of living in Orange, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 97.2% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Orange Affordable?

Is Orange affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Orange, for instance, where the median home price falls 112% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 62.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Orange flaunting a median household income of $129,489, 134.1% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Orange?

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Orange, the groceries index is 1% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Orange, the transportation index is 3.2% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Orange cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Orange

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Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Orange is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Orange has a median income of about $137,560 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $3,210 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $53,906. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,258 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

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Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.