Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Sutton vs Plainville
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 kids (22.9% under 18).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315 |
9,452Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Sutton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.