Compare towns
Plainville vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Smithfield | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
22,233Highest |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above 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% |
16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Smithfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Smithfield | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Smithfield High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.8Highest |
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.