Compare towns
Derby vs Preston vs Plainville
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%).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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.
| Measure | Derby | Preston | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
4,821Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Derby and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Preston 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Derby and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| 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.