Compare towns
Derby vs Willimantic vs Windsor Locks 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Willimantic | Windsor Locks | Shelton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,487Lowest |
18,096 |
12,579 |
41,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | +3.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$108,185±$11kHighest 13% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,409 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Willimantic 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #71 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Derby School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Shelton School District |
| High school in town | Derby High School | — | Windsor Locks High School | Shelton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
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.