What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Webster	Derby
People
Population	17,748Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.	$79,500±$11kHighest about the U.S. average
	Derby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S.	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.	$5,510Highest 77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	61.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Webster 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	#271 of 282 in MA	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Webster	Derby School District
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.