Compare towns
Plainville vs Windsor vs Chaplin 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).
Windsor has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Windsor | Chaplin | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
29,468Highest |
2,070Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above 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% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor and Chaplin 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%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Chaplin 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% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$104,725±$8kHighest 9% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Windsor and Chaplin 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 |
$305,200±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Windsor and Chaplin 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 |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
21 min 19% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | — | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Windsor High School | Parish Hill High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.2 |
7.5Lowest |
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.