Compare towns
Derby vs Lancaster vs Bloomfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Bloomfield has the shortest commute (23 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 | Lancaster | Bloomfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
8,606Lowest |
21,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.4±3.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bloomfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bloomfield and Derby 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$98,725±$14k 22% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bloomfield 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$286,900±$11k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,881±$175 33% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bloomfield 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,795 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±11.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #139 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Nashoba | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Academy of International Studies 6-12 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.