Compare towns
Harvard vs Killingly vs Derby vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Harvard | Killingly | Derby | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
17,867Highest |
12,487 |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.