Compare towns
Derby vs Mansfield vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Windham has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
25,358Highest |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Derby and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
| Mansfield 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 |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Derby High School | E. O. Smith High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.