Compare towns
Killingly vs Derby vs Ayer vs Putnam
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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
12,487 |
8,645Lowest |
9,292 |
| 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 |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Derby and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derby and Killingly 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±$11k about the U.S. average |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% 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 |
$1,149±$44 19% 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 | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,510Highest 77% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% 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% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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. |
25 minLowest 6% 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% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 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 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Derby High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.7 |
11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.