Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Derby vs Willimantic

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%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).

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.

MeasureBrooklynDerbyWillimantic
People
Population
8,517Lowest
12,487
18,096Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.5%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
45.6±2.5
11% above CT
46.4±3.1Highest
13% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below 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%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
17.6%±2.9
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Derby and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15kHighest
about the CT average
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Brooklyn and Derby 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±$21k
30% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
24% below CT
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Lowest
32% below CT
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$4,678
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and Derby 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%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
11 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
27 minHighest
about the CT average
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
10.7%±5.4
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Derby and Brooklyn 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 —
School district Brooklyn School District Derby School District —
High school in town None in town Derby High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.