Compare towns
Derby vs Plainville vs Union
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,551Highest |
944Lowest |
| 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 |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% 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% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Union 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
| Union and Plainville 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | Union School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.