Compare towns
Bristol vs Derby vs Killingly vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Bristol | Derby | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
12,487Lowest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Killingly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Bristol 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.