Compare towns
Derby vs Needham vs Orange vs Winchester
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Needham | Orange | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
32,459Highest |
14,315 |
10,284Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Orange 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161 54% above U.S. |
$1,174±$116Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Needham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,988 188% above U.S. |
$4,780Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | — | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | — | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — | 9.7 |
| 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.