Compare towns
Groton vs Willimantic vs Putnam 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).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Willimantic | Putnam | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,490 |
18,096Highest |
9,292Lowest |
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 |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| Derby and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Putnam 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Putnam 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,577±$8kHighest 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Groton and Derby 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,250±$98 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,411 34% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 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 | 18.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.4% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 34% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Putnam 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 | — | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | — | Putnam School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Putnam High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
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.