Compare towns
Plainville vs Willimantic 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 homeowners (67.7%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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 | Willimantic | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
18,096Highest |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Plainville and Derby 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$256,700±$21kHighest 30% below CT |
| Derby and Plainville 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainville 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | — | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.