Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Prospect vs Plainville
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).
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Plainville 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 | Prospect | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315 |
9,458Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Prospect 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% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Prospect 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% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect 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% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Derby 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 |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Orange and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,800±$433 21% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Orange and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 16 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.