Compare towns
Derby vs Exeter vs Orange
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Exeter | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
7,195Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Exeter 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% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Orange and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Orange 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 |
$1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Lowest 77% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.