What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).

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	12,487Highest	9,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.	43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	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 U.S.: 22%	18.3%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainville 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Plainville 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 about the U.S. average	$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.	$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Highest 77% above U.S.	$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.8%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainville 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	#102 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Plainville
High school in town	Derby High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.