Compare towns
Killingly vs Derby vs Brookfield 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).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
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 | Brookfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
12,487 |
17,706 |
9,292Lowest |
| 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 |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Derby and Brookfield 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% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±2.8 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% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% 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% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 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% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 6% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Brookfield 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 | #67 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 | Brookfield School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Derby High School | Brookfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.7 |
12.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.