Compare towns
Derby vs Orange vs Willimantic 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
14,315 |
18,096 |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-1.7% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Willimantic 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%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,476±$121 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% 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% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
58.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9 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 | — | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | — | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | — | 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.