Compare towns
Orange vs Washington 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 highest household income ($142k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,315Highest |
3,676Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Lowest 11% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Washington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17k 34% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 12 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.