Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Redding
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Redding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315Highest |
8,780Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Redding 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%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Redding 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$10k 49% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
| Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Orange 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Joel Barlow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.