Compare towns
Plainville vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Derby
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
7,208Lowest |
15,141 |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| Derby and Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Durham 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% |
17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 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±$7k 12% below CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 13 | Plainfield School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | Plainfield High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
10.3 |
9.7 |
| 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.