Compare towns
Derby vs Thompson 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 people working from home (15.1%).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Thompson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,337Lowest |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainville and Derby 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% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Thompson 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 |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Thompson School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
7.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.