Compare towns
Orange vs Sutton vs Derby vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% 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 | Orange | Sutton | Derby | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
9,452Lowest |
12,487 |
18,949Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2Lowest 12% 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 | 22.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest 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+ | 59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 76% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 188% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4 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 | 3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Sutton | Derby School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Derby High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
9.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.