Compare towns
Derby vs Plainfield vs Washington vs Winchester
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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k 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 | Washington | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
15,141Highest |
3,676Lowest |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
| Washington and Winchester 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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±$11k 17% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
| Washington and Derby 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,174±$116Lowest 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Plainfield High School | Shepaug Valley School | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.