Compare towns

Orange vs Madison vs Derby vs Granby

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 kids (22.9% under 18).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($584k median).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Granby has the youngest population (median age 44.7).

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.

MeasureOrangeMadisonDerbyGranby
People
Population
14,315
17,616Highest
12,487
11,184Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
45.6±2.4
11% above CT
51.9±1.9Highest
26% above CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
44.7±3.2Lowest
9% above CT
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.1%±2.2
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
21.2%±3.2
CT: 20.2%
Orange and Granby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
25.2%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.3%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Madison and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.4%
CT: 42.5%
72.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
59.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.1%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$142,325±$10k
49% above CT
$167,442±$16kHighest
75% above CT
$79,500±$11kLowest
17% below CT
$120,275±$14k
26% above CT
Madison 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
$583,900±$30kHighest
59% above CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$367,900±$17k
about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,172±$161Highest
46% above CT
$2,025±$741
36% above CT
$1,452±$95
about the CT average
$1,335±$169Lowest
10% below CT
Orange and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,988Highest
35% above CT
$8,843
33% above CT
$5,510Lowest
17% below CT
$8,376
26% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±12.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
44%±12.3
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6
CT: 52.6%
29.6%±13.1Lowest
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%
CT: 10%
3.6%
CT: 10%
10.8%Highest
CT: 10%
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.2%
CT: 66.5%
90.4%
CT: 66.5%
61.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
92.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
3 yrs older than CT
1976
9 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
30 minHighest
12% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
28 min
7% above CT
Work from home
15.6%±2.9
CT: 16%
30.2%±5.3Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Lowest
CT: 16%
30.2%±5Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #38 of 149 in CT #7 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #54 of 149 in CT
School district Orange School District · Regional School District 05 Madison School District Derby School District Granby School District
High school in town None in town Daniel Hand High School Derby High School Granby Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
9.7Lowest
11.9Highest
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.