Compare towns
Derby vs Madison 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 most affordable homes ($257k median).
Madison has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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 | Madison | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,616Highest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
51.9±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.2%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Madison 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$167,442±$16kHighest 75% above CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Madison and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$583,900±$30kHighest 59% above CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average |
$2,025±$741 36% above CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$8,843 33% above CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
44%±12.3Lowest 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% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
30.2%±5.3Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #7 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Madison School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Daniel Hand High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.