Compare towns
Derby vs Douglas vs Plainfield vs Ansonia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Douglas | Plainfield | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,207Lowest |
15,141 |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.1±1.6 3% 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ansonia 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 about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$85,877±$10k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$287,200±$14k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,476±$121 4% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,446 75% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Douglas | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Douglas High School | Plainfield High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.