Compare towns
Derby vs Groton vs Willimantic
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%).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Willimantic has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Groton | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487 |
9,490Lowest |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
-9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Groton 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% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% CT: 42.5% |
38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$79,577±$8kHighest 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Groton 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±$21k 30% below CT |
$306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,411Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7Lowest 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 | 10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
18.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
45.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Derby School District | — | — |
| High school 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.