Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Sturbridge 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 renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Killingly | Sturbridge | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,867Highest |
9,960Lowest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Sturbridge 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% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Orange 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 |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Orange and Sturbridge 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. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.