Compare towns
Derby vs Sandy Hook vs Ansonia vs Plainville
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Sandy Hook has the highest household income ($161k).
Ansonia has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sandy Hook | Ansonia | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,863Lowest |
19,033Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | -1.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
40.1±1.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sandy Hook and Ansonia 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
$1,476±$121 about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Sandy Hook and Ansonia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$5,446 18% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 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% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | — | #142 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.