Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Windham
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 most expensive homes ($289k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
23,961Highest |
| 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 |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
| Derby and Plainville 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Killingly 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainville 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±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
| Killingly and Derby 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 |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Derby 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% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.