Compare towns
Orange vs Redding vs West Haven vs Derby
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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
West Haven has the youngest population (median age 35.8).
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 | Redding | West Haven | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
8,780Lowest |
55,351Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and West Haven 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Redding 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% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10k 49% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$2,101±$304 41% above CT |
$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Orange and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$6,941 4% above CT |
$5,510Lowest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Orange 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Joel Barlow High School | West Haven High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
15.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.