Compare towns
Derby vs Thompson vs Plainfield vs Ansonia
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%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ansonia has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Thompson | Plainfield | Ansonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,337Lowest |
15,141 |
19,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -1.7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.1±1.6 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.3%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Ansonia 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ansonia 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$85,877±$10k 10% below CT |
| Thompson and Ansonia 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 |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$287,200±$14k 22% below CT |
| Thompson and Ansonia 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 |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,476±$121Highest about the CT average |
| Ansonia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,446 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.7%±10Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
9.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
58.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
9.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #142 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Ansonia School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School | Emmett O'Brien Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.