Compare towns
Plainville vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Washington | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
3,676Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington 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 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainville 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 |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Washington 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 31% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Derby and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 12 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Shepaug Valley School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.1Lowest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.