Compare towns
Groton vs Thompson vs Willimantic vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Willimantic has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Groton | Thompson | Willimantic | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,490 |
9,337Lowest |
18,096Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39±3.7 5% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8k 17% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Thompson and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,600±$26kHighest 16% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Groton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411 34% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Thompson 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | — | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | — | Derby School District |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
— | 9.7Highest |
| 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.