Compare towns
Orange vs Winchester vs Monroe 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 people working from home (15.6%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Winchester | Monroe | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
10,284Lowest |
18,949Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
43.5±2.2Lowest 6% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Orange 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.3% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest 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 |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below 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 |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below 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 |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988 35% above CT |
$4,780Lowest 28% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Monroe School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Masuk High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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.