Compare towns
Derby vs Winsted 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 people working from home (15.1%).
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Shelton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).
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 | Winsted | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
6,977Lowest |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
-6.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
47.6±7.3Highest 16% above CT |
44.5±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Winsted and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Shelton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Winsted and Shelton 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% |
26.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$64,871±$12kLowest 32% below CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,183±$130Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| Shelton and Derby 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 |
$3,754Lowest 43% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±16.7Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
54.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
7.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 | — | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| 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.