Compare towns
Killingly vs Derby vs Bolton vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Bolton has the highest household income ($126k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Killingly | Derby | Bolton | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
12,487 |
4,853Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Derby and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton 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 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton 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 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bolton 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 | #79 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | Bolton School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Derby High School | Bolton High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.7 |
7.4Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.