Compare towns
Ansonia vs Plainfield vs Willimantic vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ansonia has the highest household income ($86k).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Ansonia | Plainfield | Willimantic | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,033Highest |
15,141 |
18,096 |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,877±$10kHighest 10% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Ansonia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$14kHighest 22% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Ansonia and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Ansonia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,446 18% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 13 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.9 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 | #142 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Plainfield School District | — | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | Plainfield High School | — | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.3 |
— | 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.