What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has the highest household income ($159k).

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	Durham
People
Population	12,487Highest	7,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT	45.5±2.8Lowest 11% above CT
	Derby and Durham 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%	16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2%
	Durham 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 CT: 18.5%	17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Derby and Durham 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%	47.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1%	3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Derby and Durham 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	$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT	$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average	$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT
	Derby and Durham 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	$7,998Highest 20% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%	44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Durham 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%	3.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	93.2%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	23 minLowest 13% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%	20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16%
	Durham 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	#88 of 149 in CT
School district	Derby School District	Regional School District 13
High school in town	Derby High School	Coginchaug Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	8.9Lowest
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.