Compare towns
Derby vs Brookfield vs Plainfield
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).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Brookfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,706Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Derby and Brookfield 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% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Brookfield 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% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Brookfield School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Brookfield High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.