Compare towns
Derby vs Morris 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).
Morris has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Morris | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
2,164Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
| Morris 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 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Morris 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% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 17% below CT |
$109,191±$25k 14% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Orange and Morris 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 |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,204±$134Lowest 19% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$5,273Lowest 21% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Morris 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% |
6.8% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 11% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Morris 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Regional School District 20 | 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 |
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.