What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	12,487Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Derby and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Douglas 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 U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Douglas 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 about the U.S. average	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.
	Douglas and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Douglas
High school in town	Derby High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.