Compare towns
Plainfield vs Derby vs Windsor Locks vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Plainfield | Derby | Windsor Locks | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,141Highest |
12,487 |
12,579 |
5,124Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
48.4±4.5Highest 18% above CT |
| Canterbury and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Derby and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,209 37% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 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 | 8.7% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Derby School District | Windsor Locks School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Plainfield High School | Derby High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.