Compare towns
Derby vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Shelton has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
15,702 |
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 |
44.5±1.7Lowest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Derby and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
| Suffield and Shelton 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,424±$141Lowest 4% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| 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 17% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,409Lowest 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Suffield School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Suffield High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.9 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.