Compare towns
Derby vs Sutton vs Shelton 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).
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 | Sutton | Shelton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,452Lowest |
41,889Highest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.5 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Shelton 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,185±$11k 34% 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$452,600±$13k 36% 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,741±$216 23% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,409Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±9.8 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #71 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Sutton | Shelton School District | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Sutton High School | Shelton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.6 |
14.3Highest |
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| 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.