Compare towns
Derby vs Putnam vs Windsor vs Shelton
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
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 | Windsor | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
29,468 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Shelton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,681±$62 13% above CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| Shelton and Windsor 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Putnam School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Putnam High School | Windsor High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.5Lowest |
10.2 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.