Compare towns
Derby vs Colebrook 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).
Colebrook has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Colebrook | Chaplin | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Colebrook and Derby 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% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Derby 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% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Colebrook and Chaplin 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 |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$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 | $5,510 17% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% 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% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Colebrook 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than 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 |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | Colebrook School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | 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 | 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.