Compare towns

Killingly vs Beacon Falls vs Derby vs Plainfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).

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.

MeasureKillinglyBeacon FallsDerbyPlainfield
People
Population
17,867Highest
6,147Lowest
12,487
15,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
48.4±3.8Highest
18% above CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
37±4.5Lowest
10% below CT
Beacon Falls and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18%±4.8
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.4%±2.6
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
23.5%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9
CT: 18.5%
16.6%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Beacon Falls and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%
CT: 42.5%
15%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.3%±3.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.6%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Derby and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$101,516±$42kHighest
6% above CT
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% below CT
Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$350,300±$34kHighest
5% below CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$272,100±$16k
26% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,921±$286Highest
29% above CT
$1,452±$95
about the CT average
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$6,534Highest
about the CT average
$5,510
17% below CT
$4,209
37% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
50.7%±30.4
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Derby and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
2.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
85.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
73.6%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
1967Lowest
same as CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
33 minHighest
23% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.3%±7.4Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
CT: 16%
Beacon Falls 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 #136 of 149 in CT #77 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #131 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Regional School District 16 Derby School District Plainfield School District
High school in town Killingly High School Woodland Regional High School Derby High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.2Highest
9.7Lowest
10.3
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.