Compare towns

Derby vs Chaplin 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).
Chaplin has the highest household income ($98k).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% 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.

MeasureDerbyChaplinPlainfield
People
Population
12,487
2,070Lowest
15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
46.4±3.1Highest
13% above CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Derby and Chaplin 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%
15.7%±4.2
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Plainfield and Chaplin 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%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Derby and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin 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±$11k
17% below CT
$97,846±$14kHighest
about the CT average
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Chaplin 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±$21k
30% below CT
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
$272,100±$16kHighest
26% below CT
Plainfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$95
about the CT average
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,204±$70Lowest
19% below CT
Chaplin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$4,524
32% below CT
$4,209Lowest
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.9%±12.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
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%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
same as CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
32 minHighest
22% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
15.1%±4.8
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Chaplin 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 — #131 of 149 in CT
School district Derby School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Plainfield School District
High school in town Derby High School Parish Hill High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7
7.5Lowest
10.3Highest
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.