What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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	Dudley
People
Population	12,487Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Dudley 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 U.S.: 35.7%	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Dudley 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 23% below U.S.	$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average	$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Derby and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Highest 77% above U.S.	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Dudley 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 13 yrs older than U.S.	1967 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Derby High School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	14.3Highest
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.