Compare towns
Derby vs Hamden vs Plainville 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Hamden has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Hamden | Plainville | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
61,045Highest |
17,551 |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
44.3±1.5 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% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50 17% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Hamden 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Hamden High School | Plainville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.