Compare towns
Derby vs Franklin 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
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Derby | Franklin | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
2,004Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 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 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 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 | 10.8% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1973Highest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer 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 |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Franklin School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.