What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).

Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% 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.

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

Measure	Derby	Thomaston
People
Population	12,487Highest	7,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT	41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average
	Derby and Thomaston 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%	20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2%
	Thomaston and Derby 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%	18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Derby and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Highest CT: 42.5%	34%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1%	5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Derby and Thomaston 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	$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT
	Thomaston and Derby 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	$282,600±$23kHighest 23% below CT
	Thomaston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average	$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT	$5,915Highest 11% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6%	57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thomaston 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%	2.3%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	77.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	27 minLowest about the CT average
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16%	7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16%
	Derby and Thomaston 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	#106 of 149 in CT
School district	Derby School District	Thomaston School District
High school in town	Derby High School	Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	10.7Highest
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.