Compare towns
Plainville vs Spencer 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).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k 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 | Spencer | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
12,008Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Spencer 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest 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±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 54% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | David Prouty High | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.9 |
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.