Compare towns
Prospect vs Derby vs Coventry vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k median).
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 | Prospect | Derby | Coventry | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,458Lowest |
12,487 |
12,326 |
29,040Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
44.9±1.4Lowest 9% above CT |
| Prospect and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,232±$330Lowest 17% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Prospect and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504 about the CT average |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$5,284Lowest 20% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Coventry 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Derby School District | Coventry School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Coventry High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
9.9 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.