Compare towns
Derby vs Webster vs Shelton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Shelton has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Webster | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
12,228Lowest |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.5±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 about the U.S. average |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$108,185±$11kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$452,600±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,198±$85Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,741±$216Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Shelton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$5,409 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.