Compare towns
Derby vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Smithfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
22,233Highest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Smithfield 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Smithfield | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Smithfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.