Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Plainfield vs Upton
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).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315 |
15,141Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Derby 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% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 23% below U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Plainfield School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
11.2Highest |
| 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.