Compare towns
Derby vs Windsor vs Plainfield vs Shelton
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 renters (38.1% rent).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
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 | Windsor | Plainfield | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
29,468 |
15,141 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Shelton and Windsor 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 |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,681±$62 13% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| Shelton and Windsor 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 |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Windsor and Derby 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Plainfield School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Windsor High School | Plainfield High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.2 |
10.3 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.