Compare towns
Plainville vs Ledyard 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).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Ledyard | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
15,433 |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| 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% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$107,975±$10kHighest 13% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$326,200±$27kHighest 11% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Ledyard and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Ledyard and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainville 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Ledyard School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Ledyard High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.


