Compare towns
Derby vs Brookfield vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
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 | Derby | Brookfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,706Highest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
44.3±1.8Lowest 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Derby and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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 | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$479,700±$24k 31% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average |
$1,892±$183 27% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$7,594 14% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Brookfield School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Brookfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.