Compare towns
Derby vs Gardner vs Bloomfield 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).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Gardner | Bloomfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
21,148 |
21,754Highest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.4±3.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bloomfield and Orange 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% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bloomfield 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$98,725±$14k 22% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$286,900±$11k 14% below U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,881±$175 33% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Orange and Bloomfield 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,795 86% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bloomfield 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #139 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Gardner | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Gardner High | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.