Compare towns
Derby vs Plainfield vs Union vs Shelton
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
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 | Plainfield | Union | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
15,141 |
944Lowest |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
| Union and Derby 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% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield 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 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Shelton 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$11k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Shelton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
— | $1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| 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 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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 CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Union School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
— | 14.3Highest |
| 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.