Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Sandy Hook vs Bloomfield
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 renters (38.1% rent).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Bloomfield has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Orange | Sandy Hook | Bloomfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315 |
9,863Lowest |
21,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield 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% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield and Sandy Hook 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 |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,866±$439 25% above CT |
$1,881±$175 26% above CT |
| Orange and Bloomfield 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 |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,795 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook and Bloomfield 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 | — | #139 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | — | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | — | Academy of International Studies 6-12 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | — | 10.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.