Compare towns

Plainville vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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.

MeasurePlainvilleSpringfieldDerby
People
Population
17,551Highest
1,122Lowest
12,487
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±1.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
46.4±3.1
19% above U.S.
Springfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainville and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
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±$7k
4% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$79,500±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
Springfield and Plainville 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.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$256,700±$21k
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,452±$95Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,798Lowest
54% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,510
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±12.4
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.9%±12.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
61.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer 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%
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield 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 — #138 of 149 in CT
School district Judicial Centers · Plainville School District — Derby School District
High school in town Plainville High School — 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

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.