Compare towns

Union vs Derby vs Colebrook

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).

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.

MeasureUnionDerbyColebrook
People
Population
944Lowest
12,487Highest
1,494
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
49.9±4.3
21% above CT
46.4±3.1Lowest
13% above CT
52.1±5Highest
27% above CT
Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±2.6
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
26%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±3.3Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Derby and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,958±$14k
7% below CT
$79,500±$11kLowest
17% below CT
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% above CT
Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,400±$26k
10% below CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$342,800±$19kHighest
7% below CT
Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,333±$626Lowest
10% below CT
Derby and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,793Lowest
28% below CT
$5,510
17% below CT
$6,211Highest
7% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Union and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.8%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
9 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
34 minHighest
29% above CT
Work from home
9%±3.7
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
7%±3.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Derby and Union 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 — #138 of 149 in CT —
School district Union School District Derby School District Colebrook School District
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.