Compare towns
Derby vs Plainville vs Redding
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k 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 | Plainville | Redding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,551Highest |
8,780Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Redding and Plainville 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% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Redding 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% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$7k 12% below CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Plainville High School | Joel Barlow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.