Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Preston
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 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 | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315Highest |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Derby and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest 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±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Orange and Preston 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±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest 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 | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.