Compare towns
Derby vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
8,606Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Orange and Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161 54% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Lowest 77% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Nashoba | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | 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.