Is private school cheaper in Hartford or Orange County?

Orange County has lower average private school tuition at $20,800/year vs $28,000/year in Hartford. That's $7,200/year less, or $93,600 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Orange County over Hartford?

Average tuition in Orange County is $7,200/year less than Hartford. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $93,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $15,800/year in Hartford, $11,200/year in Orange County.

How do Hartford and Orange County private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Hartford averages $28,000/year ($15,650 above average). Orange County averages $20,800/year ($8,450 above average).

Private School Cost: Hartford vs Orange County

Orange County averages $7,200/year less for private school (35% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $93,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Orange County is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $20,800/year vs $28,000/year in Hartford. Religious schools run $11,200/year on the low end.

Hartford

$28,000

avg tuition/year

$15,650 above national avg

Orange County

$20,800

avg tuition/year

$8,450 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Hartford	Orange County	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$28,000/yr	$20,800/yr	+$7,200
Religious Schools	$15,800/yr	$11,200/yr	+$4,600
Independent/Prep	$44,500/yr	$34,800/yr	+$9,700
Elementary (K-5)	$22,800/yr	$17,000/yr	+$5,800
Middle School (6-8)	$28,000/yr	$20,800/yr	+$7,200
High School (9-12)	$35,000/yr	$25,500/yr	+$9,500

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Hartford

$364,000

Orange County

$270,400

Choosing Orange County saves $93,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $187,200.

Sample Schools

Hartford

Kingswood Oxford School

Independent · 6–12 · $44,800-$47,200/yr

Loomis Chaffee School

Independent (Day) · 9–12 · $48,200/yr

Watkinson School

Independent · 6–12 · $36,800/yr

Northwest Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Orange County

Sage Hill School

Independent · 9–12 · $41,800/yr

Fairmont Preparatory Academy

Independent · 9–12 · $34,600-$37,200/yr

Calvary Chapel Academy

Christian · K–12 · $10,400-$12,800/yr

JSerra Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $22,400/yr

Full Hartford breakdown → Full Orange County breakdown →

Connecticut private school costs California private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.