What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	Redding
People
Population	12,487Highest	8,780Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	46.4±3.1Lowest 13% above CT	52±2Highest 27% above CT
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%	19.1%±2.8Highest CT: 20.2%
	Redding 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 CT: 18.5%	26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Redding 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 CT: 42.5%	72.1%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1%	3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Derby and Redding 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	$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT	$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average	$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT	$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6%
	Redding and Derby 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%	4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	91.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	36 minHighest 36% above CT
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%	32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#138 of 149 in CT	#14 of 149 in CT
School district	Derby School District	Redding School District · Regional School District 09
High school in town	Derby High School	Joel Barlow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.