Compare towns
Plainville vs Orange vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
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 | Plainville | Orange | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
14,315 |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% 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 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 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+ | 30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest 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 | 6.5% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Derby 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.