What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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	Mendon
People
Population	12,487Highest	6,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Derby and Mendon 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%	22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon 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%	14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Mendon 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%	46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon 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	$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.	$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.	$7,213Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon 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%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#138 of 149 in CT	#210 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Derby High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7	—
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.