Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Thompson vs Ansonia
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 expensive homes ($492k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Thompson | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
14,315 |
9,337Lowest |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -1.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
40.1±1.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Ansonia 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,476±$121 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,446 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Thompson 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 7.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.