Compare towns
Devens vs Derby vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
East Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Devens | Derby | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
12,487Highest |
2,166 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
52.1±6.4Highest 34% above U.S. |
| East Brookfield and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Brookfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Brookfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,042±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$381,200±$30k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$33Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Devens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,430Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens 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 | — |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.