Compare towns
Derby vs Plainville vs Suffield vs Orange
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Suffield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,551Highest |
15,702 |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| 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% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Orange and Suffield 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Orange 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Plainville High School | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.9 |
— |
| 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.