Compare towns
Derby vs Redding vs Winchester 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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
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 | Redding | Winchester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
8,780Lowest |
10,284 |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
| Redding and Winchester 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% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Redding 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% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,174±$116Lowest 21% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,988 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
4% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Joel Barlow High School | Northwestern Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.