Compare towns
Derby vs Bristol vs Shelton
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Shelton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).
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 | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
22,220 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.5±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Shelton 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% |
18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shelton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$108,185±$11kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Shelton and Bristol 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. |
$452,600±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
$1,741±$216Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Shelton and Bristol 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. |
$5,393Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,409 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Bristol Warren | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Mt. Hope High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.5 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.