Compare towns
Derby vs Thomaston vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Thomaston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
7,492Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Plainfield 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%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Thomaston and Plainfield 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min 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% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Thomaston School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Thomaston High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.