Compare towns
Derby vs Northbridge vs Plainville
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).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
16,458 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge and Derby 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Northbridge | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Northbridge High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.8 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.