Compare towns
Plainville vs Torrington vs Upton 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).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Torrington | Upton | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
35,547Highest |
8,189Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Torrington 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% |
19.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Upton 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$70,856±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,169±$43 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Upton 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Torrington High School | Blackstone Valley | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.9Highest |
11.2 |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.