Compare towns

Derby vs Griswold 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

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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.

MeasureDerbyGriswoldKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
12,487
11,530
17,867Highest
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
— — —
Median age
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
48.1±3.9Highest
17% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Griswold and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±3.7
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Putnam 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%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
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+
35.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
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
17% below CT
$78,719±$11k
18% below CT
$84,350±$8kHighest
12% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
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
30% below CT
$275,900±$42k
25% below CT
$288,600±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
Killingly and Griswold 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 CT average
$1,177±$65
21% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$4,628
30% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.9%±12.6
CT: 52.6%
57.5%±15.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Griswold and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%
CT: 10%
7.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
73.3%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
same as CT
1977Highest
10 yrs newer than 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
31 minHighest
17% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
9%±3.6Lowest
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 #138 of 149 in CT #118 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Derby School District Griswold School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District
High school in town Derby High School Griswold High School Killingly High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7
11.5Highest
11.1
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.