Compare towns
Derby vs Beacon Falls vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Beacon Falls has the most expensive homes ($350k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Derby | Beacon Falls | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
6,147Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest 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 | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Regional School District 16 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Woodland Regional High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.