Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Ware
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Ware has the most expensive homes ($290k 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 | Plainfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Derby and Ware 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Ware 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 23% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Ware and Killingly 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 U.S. average |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derby and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.3 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.