Compare towns
Derby vs Durham vs Shelton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Shelton has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Durham | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
7,208Lowest |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
44.5±1.5Lowest 8% 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%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Shelton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| Shelton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$5,409Lowest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Shelton 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% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Regional School District 13 | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.