Compare towns
Thompson vs Derby vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Thompson | Derby | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Lowest |
12,487 |
17,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Thompson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Derby School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Derby High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Lowest |
9.7 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.