What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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	Hanson
People
Population	12,487Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Derby and Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Hanson 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 U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Hanson 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 about the U.S. average	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.
	Hanson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.	$6,402Highest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Derby 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%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Derby High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	14.7Highest
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.