Compare towns
Plainville vs Foster 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).
Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Foster | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
4,523Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
| Foster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Foster 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% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
| Foster 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. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Derby 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Foster | 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.