Compare towns
Derby vs Winchester vs Plainfield
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%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Winchester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
10,284Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Winchester and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Winchester 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$272,100±$16kHighest 26% below CT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,174±$116Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
9.7Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.