Compare towns
Derby vs Windsor 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 renters (38.1% rent).
Windsor has the highest household income ($105k).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
29,468Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Plainville 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%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±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 |
$104,725±$8kHighest 9% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$305,200±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Windsor 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% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
21 min 19% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Windsor High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.2 |
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.