Compare towns
Derby vs Windsor vs Windsor Locks 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 most homeowners (82.4%).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
29,468 |
12,579 |
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 |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
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%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor 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 CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% 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 |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,681±$62 13% above CT |
$1,394±$187Lowest 6% 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older 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 |
22 min 17% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Windsor 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Windsor Locks School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Windsor High School | Windsor Locks High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.2 |
8.9Lowest |
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.