Compare towns
Berlin vs Derby vs Orange vs Cromwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Cromwell has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Berlin | Derby | Orange | Cromwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,361Highest |
12,487Lowest |
14,315 |
14,334 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.5±2.5Lowest 6% above CT |
| Berlin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
22%±3.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
49.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$110,596±$10k 15% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$325,200±$22k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Lowest 6% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,628±$154 9% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291 10% above CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,137 8% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
61%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4Highest CT: 16% |
| Cromwell and Orange 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #69 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Cromwell School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Derby High School | None in town | Cromwell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.