Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Windsor vs Shelton
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 highest household income ($142k).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 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 | Windsor | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
14,315 |
29,468 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Orange 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% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Windsor 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%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Shelton 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
43.2% CT: 42.5% |
41.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$452,600±$13k 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,681±$62 13% above CT |
$1,741±$216 17% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,351Lowest 19% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 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% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | Windsor High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.2 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.