Compare towns
Plainville vs Sterling vs Windham 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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Sterling | Windham | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
3,629Lowest |
23,961Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Windham 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Sterling 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±$14k 31% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Sterling and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
— | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Windham High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.8 |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.