Compare towns
Derby vs Stepney 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).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Stepney | Winchester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
3,979Lowest |
10,284 |
14,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
| Winchester and Stepney 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Stepney 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% |
17.7%±4.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Orange 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% |
54.2% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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±$11k 17% below CT |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
| Stepney 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 30% below CT |
$475,800±$53k 30% above CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Orange and Stepney 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 CT average |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,174±$116Lowest 21% below CT |
$2,172±$161 46% above CT |
| Stepney and Orange 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 |
$9,309Highest 40% 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% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
89.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1982Highest 15 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #97 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | Northwestern Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.