Compare towns
Derby vs Willimantic vs Brooklyn vs Winchester
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 the most renters (65.1% rent).
Brooklyn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Willimantic | Brooklyn | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487 |
18,096Highest |
8,517Lowest |
10,284 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
| Winchester 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$66,519±$12k 31% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Derby 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,125±$98 24% below CT |
$1,174±$116 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,780 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 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% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
65.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1955 12 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Brooklyn 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 | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Brooklyn School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — | 9.7 |
| 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.