Compare towns
Orange vs Derby vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($492k median).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Derby | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315 |
12,487Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| 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%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Derby School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.