Compare towns

Derby vs Putnam vs Brooklyn

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%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).

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.

MeasureDerbyPutnamBrooklyn
People
Population
12,487Highest
7,120Lowest
8,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.5%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
-2.1%Highest
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
46.4±3.1Highest
13% above CT
41.2±5.1Lowest
about the CT average
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
Derby and Brooklyn 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%
18.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn and Putnam 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%
17%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
Derby and Brooklyn 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%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
Derby and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% below CT
$96,207±$15kHighest
about the CT average
Brooklyn 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±$21k
30% below CT
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$315,200±$28kHighest
14% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,147±$43
23% below CT
$1,125±$98Lowest
24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
$4,538
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.9%±12.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
Derby and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
same as CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the CT average
25 minLowest
5% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
Derby and Brooklyn 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 #128 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT
School district Derby School District — Brooklyn School District
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 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.