Compare towns
Derby vs Deep River vs Orange vs Shelton
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).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Shelton has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Deep River | Orange | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
4,458Lowest |
14,315 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Derby and Deep River 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% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Deep River 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% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 |
$90,253±$19k 6% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$452,600±$13k 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,741±$216 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$6,092 8% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,409Lowest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Deep River 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% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Valley Regional High School | None in town | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| 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.