Compare towns
Prospect vs Derby vs Harwinton
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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Harwinton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Harwinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458 |
12,487Highest |
5,575Lowest |
| 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 |
46.1±4.3Lowest 12% 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%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Harwinton 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%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.7%±2.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Harwinton and Derby 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 |
$129,643±$18kHighest 35% above CT |
| Harwinton 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±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$352,100±$16k 4% below CT |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,452±$95Lowest about the CT average |
$1,504±$200 about the CT average |
| Prospect and Harwinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$5,503Lowest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
27.8%±27.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Prospect 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% |
4.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Harwinton 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 | #34 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Derby School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— |
| 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.