Compare towns
Derby vs Bristol vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Putnam has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Derby | Bristol | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
22,220Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$5,393 73% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Bristol 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 | #20 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Bristol Warren | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Mt. Hope High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.