Compare towns
Derby vs Gardner vs Killingly vs Bloomfield
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Gardner | Killingly | Bloomfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
21,148 |
17,867 |
21,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±3.3Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest 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%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bloomfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bloomfield 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$98,725±$14kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Bloomfield and Killingly 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. |
$286,900±$11k 14% 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±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,881±$175Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,795Highest 86% 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% |
52.6%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest 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% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bloomfield and Derby 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 | #139 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.