Compare towns

Orange vs Redding vs Derby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.

MeasureOrangeReddingDerby
People
Population
14,315Highest
8,780Lowest
12,487
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
-4.5%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.6±2.4Lowest
11% above CT
52±2Highest
27% above CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
19.1%±2.8
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
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+
23%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
26.4%±3.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Redding and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.4%
CT: 42.5%
72.1%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
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
$142,325±$10k
49% above CT
$186,060±$15kHighest
94% above CT
$79,500±$11kLowest
17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17k
34% above CT
$706,300±$33kHighest
93% above CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$2,101±$304
41% above CT
$1,452±$95Lowest
about the CT average
Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988
35% above CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
$5,510Lowest
17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
64.9%±19.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6Lowest
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
3.9%Lowest
CT: 10%
4%
CT: 10%
10.8%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1972Highest
5 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above CT
36 minHighest
36% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
32.5%±4.9Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 149 in CT #14 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT
School district — Redding School District · Regional School District 09 Derby School District
High school in town — Joel Barlow High School Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.