Compare towns
Derby vs Plainville vs Upton vs Orange
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Orange has the most homeowners (89.2%).
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 | Upton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,551Highest |
8,189Lowest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Orange 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% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 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 |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest 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% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Plainville High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.2 |
— |
| 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.