Compare towns

Derby vs Willimantic

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%).
Willimantic has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

MeasureDerbyWillimantic
People
Population
12,487Lowest
18,096Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.5%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
+2.3%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
46.4±3.1Highest
13% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
21.1%±3.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,500±$11kHighest
17% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$256,700±$21kHighest
30% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$4,678Lowest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.9%±12.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
same as CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the CT average
23 minLowest
12% below CT
Work from home
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #138 of 149 in CT —
School district Derby School District —
High school in town Derby High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.