Compare towns
Orange vs Lancaster vs Monroe 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Lancaster | Monroe | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
8,606Lowest |
18,949Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.5±2.2 12% 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%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Monroe 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±$17k 48% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161 54% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$994±$860Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 188% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #48 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Nashoba | Monroe School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Masuk High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.