Compare towns
Colebrook vs Derby vs Orange vs Morris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Morris 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 | Colebrook | Derby | Orange | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
12,487 |
14,315Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±5 27% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
| Morris and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Morris and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$134Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 7% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,273Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
89.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Morris 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| 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.