What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Washington	Derby
People
Population	3,676Lowest	12,487Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.5% CT: +0.9%
Median age	49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT	46.4±3.1Lowest 13% above CT
	Washington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2%	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Washington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5%	21.1%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Washington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest CT: 42.5%	35.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Washington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT	$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT
	Washington and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average
	Derby and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,709Lowest 29% below CT	$5,510Highest 17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6%	53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6%
	Derby and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest CT: 10%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest CT: 66.5%	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	20.1%±9Highest CT: 16%	15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16%
	Washington and Derby 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	#17 of 149 in CT	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Regional School District 12	Derby School District
High school in town	Shepaug Valley School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Lowest	9.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.