Compare towns
Derby vs Chaplin vs Plainville
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 most homeowners (82.9%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Chaplin | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
2,070Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Plainville 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%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kHighest 30% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Derby and Chaplin 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 |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% 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 |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Parish Hill High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
7.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.