Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Derby vs Killingly vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 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.

MeasureBrooklynDerbyKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
8,517Lowest
12,487
17,867Highest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
46.4±3.1Highest
13% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Derby and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Brooklyn and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
CT: 42.5%
35.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Derby and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Brooklyn and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,200±$28kHighest
14% below CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
Brooklyn and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538
32% below CT
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
27 min
about the CT average
28 minHighest
5% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
Derby and Killingly 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 #113 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Brooklyn School District Derby School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District
High school in town None in town Derby High School Killingly High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.7
11.1Highest
9.5Lowest
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.