Compare towns
Derby vs Putnam vs Sutton 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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Putnam | Sutton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
9,452 |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Sutton 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Sutton | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.