Compare towns
Plainville vs Derby vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Derby | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
12,487Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$258,800±$14kHighest 29% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,394±$187 6% 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 | $4,798 28% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest 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 | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Derby School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Derby High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.7 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.