Compare towns
Derby vs Granby vs Sandy Hook vs Plainville
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 renters (38.1% rent).
Granby has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Granby | Sandy Hook | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
11,184 |
9,863Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
44.7±3.2 9% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Granby 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% |
21.2%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Granby 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% |
21.3%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Granby 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$120,275±$14k 26% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$367,900±$17k about the CT average |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,335±$169 10% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$8,376 26% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
29.6%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Sandy Hook 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 7% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
30.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Granby and Sandy Hook 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 | #54 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Granby School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Granby Memorial High School | — | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.