Compare towns
Ashford vs Derby vs Killingly vs Union
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).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Derby | Killingly | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
12,487 |
17,867Highest |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 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% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Derby 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Killingly 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 |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Ashford and Union 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 |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Derby and Ashford 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 |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest 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 | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
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.