Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Shelton vs Thompson
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 renters (38.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Shelton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
17,867 |
41,889Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Shelton 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% |
21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Shelton and Thompson 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±$15k 21% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Shelton and Derby 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Shelton 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 | #71 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Shelton School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Shelton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1 |
14.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.