Compare towns
Derby vs Putnam 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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Putnam | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
14,315Highest |
| 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 |
43.7±3Lowest 6% 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Putnam School District | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.