Compare towns
Derby vs Thomaston vs Plainfield vs Bloomfield
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).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Bloomfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
7,492Lowest |
15,141 |
21,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest 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%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield 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% CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield 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±$11k 17% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
| Thomaston and Bloomfield 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±$23k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$286,900±$11kHighest 22% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,795 13% 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% |
52.6%±11.2 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% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #139 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Thomaston School District | Plainfield School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Thomaston High School | Plainfield High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.3 |
10.1 |
| 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.