What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

Deep River has the most expensive homes ($362k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	Deep River
People
Population	12,487Highest	4,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT	46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT
	Derby and Deep River 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%	16.6%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2%
	Deep River and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5%	22.1%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5%
	Deep River 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%Lowest CT: 42.5%	44.6%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1%	3.8%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Derby and Deep River 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	$90,253±$19kHighest 6% below CT
	Deep River 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±$21kLowest 30% below CT	$362,200±$26kHighest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average	$1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT
	Derby and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT	$6,092Highest 8% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6%
	Deep River and Derby 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%	8.2%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	69.2%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	24 minLowest 9% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%	15.2%±5.6Highest CT: 16%
	Deep River 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	#70 of 149 in CT
School district	Derby School District	Deep River School District · Regional School District 04
High school in town	Derby High School	Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.