Compare towns
Plainville vs Wethersfield vs Windsor Locks 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 most affordable homes ($254k median).
Wethersfield has the highest household income ($127k).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Wethersfield | Windsor Locks | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
27,250Highest |
12,579 |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
43.4±1.5 6% above CT |
41.4±2.6Lowest about the CT average |
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% |
21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.4%±2 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Wethersfield 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% |
54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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 |
$126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$324,600±$11kHighest 12% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,370±$150 8% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Derby and Windsor Locks 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 |
$7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
6.9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Wethersfield and Windsor Locks 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 | #92 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Wethersfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
13.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.