What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	Plainville
People
Population	12,487Lowest	17,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT	44.3±1.5Lowest 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%	15.6%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2%
	Plainville and Derby 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%	20.1%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	30%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
	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 17% below CT	$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT
	Plainville 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±$21kHighest 30% below CT	$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT
	Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Highest 17% below CT	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	67.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	21 minLowest 20% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16%	10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16%
	Derby and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Derby School District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Derby High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.