Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Derby vs Killingly vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Bloomfield | Derby | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,754Highest |
12,487 |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Killingly and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield 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 | #139 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Derby High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
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.