Compare towns

Derby vs Gardner vs Killingly

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).

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.

MeasureDerbyGardnerKillingly
People
Population
12,487Lowest
21,148Highest
17,867
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
46.4±3.1Highest
19% above U.S.
43.7±2.3
12% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Derby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
35.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,500±$11k
about the U.S. average
$67,518±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
Killingly and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$256,700±$21kLowest
23% below U.S.
$301,600±$20kHighest
9% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Gardner and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$95Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,109±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,510Highest
77% above U.S.
$4,150
33% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.9%±12.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Derby and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Derby and Gardner 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 #273 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT
School district Derby School District Gardner Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town Derby High School Gardner High Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
13.5Highest
11.1
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.