Compare towns
Derby vs Willimantic vs Brooklyn 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Willimantic | Brooklyn | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
18,096Highest |
8,517Lowest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
| Derby and Brooklyn 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% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 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 | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Brooklyn School District | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.