City · Connecticut
Derby, Connecticut
Derby, city, in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. Derby had 12,925 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,325 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,487 (±33). GEOID 0919480.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,925
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,325 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,487 ±33
Median household income
$79,500
±$11,458 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $95,781
Median home value
$256,700
±$20,667 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $366,900
Median gross rent
$1,452
±$95 (90% margin)
Connecticut: $1,488
Where is Derby and what county is it in?
Derby is a city in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut. It covers 5.1 square miles of land, 2,438 residents per square mile in 2020.
Derby is in the Waterbury-Shelton, CT metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Derby, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,925 people lived in Derby on July 1, 2025, up 4.9% since 2020, faster than Connecticut (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 12,325 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,487 (±33).
| Measure | Derby | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,487 ±33 | 454,969 | no clear change |
| Households | 5,896 ±324 | 180,116 | +750 |
| Average household size | 2.11 ±0.12 | 2.49 | −0.27 |
| Housing units | 6,219 ±341 | 192,551 | no clear change |
Derby's population since 2000
From 12,391 in 2000 to 12,925 in 2025: up 4.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Derby as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Derby?
The median resident of Derby is 46.4 years old; 14.6% are under 18 and 21.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 22.4%. 14.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Derby | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 ±3.1 | 41.8 | +6.4 |
| Under 18 years | 14.6% ±2.5 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.1% ±3.3 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±3.3 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 22.4% ±4.3 pts | 19.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 57.6% ±4.7 pts | 59.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 11.3% ±3.4 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±1.9 pts | 3.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±2.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.5% ±3.4 pts | 14.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 23.0% ±4.2 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.4% ±3.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| With a disability | 8.6% ±2.3 pts | 13.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.7% ±1.8 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.1% ±4.4 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.6% ±5.0 pts | 33.8% | +15.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.9% ±4.5 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.5% ±2.6 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Derby earn?
Half of Derby's 5,896 households earn less than $79,500 a year (±$11,458), against $86,191 in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and $95,781 in Connecticut. In 2015-2019 it was $69,358 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Derby | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $79,500 ±$11,458 | $86,191 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $94,431 ±$10,779 | $114,324 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,280 ±$4,905 | $46,363 | +$6,977 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.8% ±3.6 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.4% ±7.9 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.5% ±5.3 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.6% ±4.3 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.2% ±4.4 pts | 90.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Derby?
Owners occupy 61.9% of Derby's occupied homes and renters 38.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $256,700 by its owner (±$20,667). The median renter pays $1,452 a month including utilities, and 44.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Derby | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $256,700 ±$20,667 | $317,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,452 ±$95 | $1,330 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.7% ±11.1 pts | 44.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,941 ±$197 | $2,229 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.9% ±4.8 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.1% ±4.8 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 6,219 ±341 | 192,551 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±1.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 37.6% ±4.9 pts | 59.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.8% ±3.4 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.3% ±4.9 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.1% ±4.2 pts | 9.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Derby building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Derby in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.2 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Connecticut.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Derby work and get to work?
74.8% of Derby's workers drive alone and 15.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.
| Measure | Derby | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.4% ±4.9 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% ±3.0 pts | 6.0% | −4.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 74.8% ±5.5 pts | 74.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.4% ±2.8 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.1% ±4.4 pts | 12.7% | +9.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.9 min ±3.5 | 28.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Derby?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Derby (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $47,569 (Tract 1202) to $103,344 (Tract 1201).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1201Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 6,688 | $103,344 |
| Tract 1202Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 5,799 | $47,569 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Derby) · Census block assignment files
How does Derby compare with other places in Connecticut?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Derby is the 2,683rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 20th-most populous of 30 in Connecticut.
Derby ranks 244th of 294 places in Connecticut with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 20th | 30 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 18th | 167 |
| Residents per square mile | 43rd | 303 |
| Median household income | 244th | 294 |
| Per capita income | 229th | 303 |
| Median home value | 261st | 300 |
| Median gross rent | 139th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 49th | 202 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 219th | 297 |
| Median age | 112th | 301 |
| Owner-occupied share | 247th | 300 |
| Work from home | 170th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 160th | 302 |
Derby's figures with every place in Connecticut (CSV)
Every place in Connecticut, sortable · Compare Derby with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Derby?
12 of the 57 figures for Derby on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Derby are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Derby.