Compare towns
Derby vs Washington vs Killingly vs Plainville
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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Washington | Killingly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
3,676Lowest |
17,867Highest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Washington 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 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Plainville 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 |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Washington 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Derby and Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 min 4% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | Shepaug Valley School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.1Lowest |
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.