Compare towns

Plainville vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the highest household income ($105k).
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.

MeasurePlainvilleWindsorDerby
People
Population
17,551
29,468Highest
12,487Lowest
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
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%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Windsor and Plainville 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%
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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
43.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Plainville and Windsor 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
$79,500±$11kLowest
17% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
$305,200±$11kHighest
17% below CT
$256,700±$21k
30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,126±$147Lowest
24% below CT
$1,681±$62Highest
13% above CT
$1,452±$95
about the CT average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,798Lowest
28% below CT
$5,351
19% below CT
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±12.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
44.9%±10.9
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%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.7%
CT: 10%
10.8%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
CT: 66.5%
82.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1967Lowest
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below CT
21 min
19% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
Work from home
10.7%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
16.1%±3.2Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8
CT: 16%
Windsor 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 #117 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT
School district Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District Derby School District
High school in town Plainville High School Windsor High School Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
10.2
9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.