Compare towns
Derby vs Lancaster vs Windsor Locks 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windsor Locks | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
8,606Lowest |
12,579 |
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±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.4 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest 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% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below 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±$95 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
58.2%±16.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest 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% |
77.1% 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. |
1961Lowest 19 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 |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Nashoba | Windsor Locks School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.