Compare towns
Plainville vs Berlin vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Plainville | Berlin | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
3,378Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Berlin-Boylston | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.