What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).

West Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby	West Haven
People
Population	12,487Lowest	55,351Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9%	0%Highest CT: +0.9%
Median age	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT	35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5%	16%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Derby and West Haven 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%	30.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1%	13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT	$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT
	Derby and West Haven 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	$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average	$1,442±$43Lowest 3% below CT
	Derby and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 17% below CT	$6,941Highest 4% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±5.8Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Lowest CT: 10%	14.1%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the CT average	23 minLowest 14% below CT
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16%	9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Derby and West Haven 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	#120 of 149 in CT
School district	Derby School District	New Haven School District · West Haven School District
High school in town	Derby High School	West Haven High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	15.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.