Compare towns
Derby vs Monroe 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).
Monroe has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Monroe | Sandy Hook | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
18,949Highest |
9,863Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
57.3% 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 |
$157,250±$12k 64% above CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Monroe 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 |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$501,200±$33k 37% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Monroe and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,126±$147 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% 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% |
48.8%±46.4 CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% 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 |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #48 of 149 in CT | — | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Monroe School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Masuk High School | — | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.