Compare towns
Putnam vs Acton vs Plainville vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Putnam | Acton | Plainville | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,292Lowest |
24,155Highest |
17,551 |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Derby and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #128 of 149 in CT | #13 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Putnam School District | Acton-Boxborough | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Putnam High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Plainville High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.4 |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.