Compare towns
Derby vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks 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 most renters (38.1% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Windsor Locks has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Windsor Locks | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
15,702 |
12,579 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.9%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
44.3±1.5 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Derby and Suffield 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
26 min 3% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Suffield School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Suffield High School | — | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.9 |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.