Compare towns
Plainville vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k 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 | Salem | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
4,282Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Derby and Salem 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 |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Salem School District | 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 |
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.