Compare towns
Winsted vs Union vs Plainfield vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winsted has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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.
| Measure | Winsted | Union | Plainfield | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,977 |
944Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -4.5%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 47.6±7.3 16% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Union and Winsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winsted and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8% CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,871±$12kLowest 32% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Union and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$130Lowest 20% below CT |
— | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,754Lowest 43% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±16.7 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 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 | 15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Union School District | Plainfield School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Plainfield High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.