Compare towns
Orange vs Ledyard vs Derby vs Monroe
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 people working from home (15.6%).
Ledyard has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Ledyard | Derby | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
15,433 |
12,487Lowest |
18,949Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above 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%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Monroe 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% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest 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% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
| 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 34% above CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
| Monroe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,629±$247 9% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Monroe 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Ledyard School District | Derby School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ledyard High School | Derby High School | Masuk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
9.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.