Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Plainfield 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%).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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.
| Measure | Derby | Killingly | Plainfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Derby and Putnam 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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 |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% 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 |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.