Compare towns
Plainville vs Suffield vs Colebrook 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Suffield | Colebrook | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
15,702 |
1,494Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Colebrook 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 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Suffield and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Derby and Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Suffield School District | Colebrook School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Suffield High School | None in town | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.9 |
— | 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.