Compare towns
Derby vs Brookfield vs Windsor Locks
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 most expensive homes ($480k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Brookfield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,706Highest |
12,579 |
| 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 |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Brookfield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Brookfield School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Brookfield High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.