Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Sturbridge
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Putnam | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,867Highest |
9,292Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Derby 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Derby and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 77% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Derby 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1Highest |
9.5 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.