Compare towns
Derby vs Douglas vs Orange vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Douglas | Orange | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,207Lowest |
14,315 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Derby 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 about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Douglas | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Douglas High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
7.2Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.