What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).

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	Sandy Hook
People
Population	12,487Highest	9,863Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT	43.1±3Lowest 5% above CT
	Derby and Sandy Hook 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%	22.6%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5%	14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%	60.9%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1%
	Sandy Hook 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	$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT	$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average	$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT
	Sandy Hook and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%	52.4%±26.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Sandy Hook 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%	5.6%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	92.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	35 minHighest 33% above CT
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%	23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%
	Sandy Hook 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	—
School district	Derby School District	—
High school in town	Derby High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7	—
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.