Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Winchester
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 expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Orange | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315Highest |
10,284Lowest |
| 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±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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±$11k 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,174±$116Lowest 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange and Derby 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 | #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 |
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.