Compare towns
Derby vs Killingly vs Wolcott vs Shelton
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).
Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k 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 | Wolcott | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
17,867 |
16,279 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Shelton 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% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Wolcott 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.4%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Shelton 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 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 |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
| Wolcott and Shelton 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 |
$326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,464±$913 about the CT average |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
| Shelton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,799Highest 13% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Shelton 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% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Wolcott School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Killingly High School | Wolcott High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
10.1 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.