Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Needham
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Killingly | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,867 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%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±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Derby and Needham 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.