Compare towns
Plainville vs Putnam vs Stepney 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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).
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 | Putnam | Stepney | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
9,292 |
3,979Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
47.1±5.6Highest 15% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Stepney 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±4.1Lowest 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Stepney and Derby 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District | — | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Putnam High School | — | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— | 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.