Compare towns
Chaplin vs Derby vs Sprague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Derby has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sprague has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Derby | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
12,487Highest |
2,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$273,500±$17kHighest 25% below CT |
| Sprague and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Derby School District | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
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.