Compare towns
Killingly vs Derby vs Ayer vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Killingly | Derby | Ayer | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
12,487 |
8,645Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Derby 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 4% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer 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 13% below U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Derby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Derby High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.