Compare towns
Derby vs Northbridge vs Shelton
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Shelton has the most homeowners (76.5%).
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 | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
16,458 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.5±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Shelton 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% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Shelton 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelton 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Shelton 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. |
$108,185±$11k 34% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Shelton 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. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$452,600±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Shelton and Northbridge 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 U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,741±$216Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Shelton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,409 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Shelton 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Northbridge | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Northbridge High | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.8 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.