Compare towns

Orange vs Douglas vs Derby

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 most kids (22.9% under 18).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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.

MeasureOrangeDouglasDerby
People
Population
14,315Highest
9,207Lowest
12,487
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.4
17% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
46.4±3.1Highest
19% 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%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Orange and Douglas 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%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.9
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%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2Highest
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.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$79,500±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Douglas and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$491,500±$17kHighest
48% above U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$256,700±$21kLowest
23% below U.S.
Orange and Douglas 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.
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$1,452±$95Lowest
about the U.S. average
Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
188% above U.S.
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$5,510Lowest
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.9%±12.6
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
61.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Orange 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 #177 of 282 in MA #138 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Douglas Derby School District
High school in town None in town Douglas High School Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
9.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.