Compare towns

Derby vs Killingly vs Lancaster

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 renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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.

MeasureDerbyKillinglyLancaster
People
Population
12,487
17,867Highest
8,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±3.1Highest
19% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
Derby and Lancaster 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%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Lancaster 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%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Derby and Lancaster 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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
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±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$256,700±$21kLowest
23% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$95
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,510
77% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.9%±12.6
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Derby 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #138 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA
School district Derby School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba
High school in town Derby High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
11.1Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.