Compare towns
Plainville vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k 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 | Exeter | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
7,195Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainville 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. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Derby and Exeter 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. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | 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.