Compare towns
Derby vs Putnam vs Sutton vs Shelton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.
| Measure | Derby | Putnam | Sutton | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
9,452 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Shelton 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 about the U.S. average |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,185±$11k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$452,600±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,741±$216Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Shelton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,409 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Sutton | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School | Sutton High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.5Lowest |
12.6 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.