What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the highest household income ($80k).

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Gardner
People
Population	12,487Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Derby and Gardner 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%	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Gardner 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%	23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,500±$11kHighest about the U.S. average	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.
	Derby and Gardner 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.	$301,600±$20kHighest 9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Highest 77% above U.S.	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Gardner
High school in town	Derby High School	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	13.5Highest
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.