Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Preston
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Plainville | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
4,821Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Derby and Preston 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% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Derby 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Derby 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 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Killingly 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Derby and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Preston 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%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.