Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Derby vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Ashford | Chaplin | Derby | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
12,487 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Derby and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
| Ashford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Chaplin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Derby High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
9.7 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.