Compare towns

Killingly vs Derby vs Sprague 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 most people working from home (15.1%).
Sprague has the highest household income ($93k).
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.

MeasureKillinglyDerbySpraguePutnam
People
Population
17,867Highest
12,487
2,962Lowest
9,292
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
48.5±10.7Highest
18% above CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
Sprague 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%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
17.1%±5.4
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Putnam 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%
19.9%±3.9
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Derby and Sprague 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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
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
$92,850±$11kHighest
3% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
Sprague 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±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$273,500±$17k
25% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
Killingly and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,247±$144
16% below CT
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
Derby and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
41% below CT
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$4,668
30% below 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%
26.9%±12.2Lowest
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%
8.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
67.2%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
1 yr newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
30 minHighest
12% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
5%±2.9Lowest
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
CT: 16%
Derby and Killingly 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 #141 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 Sprague School District Putnam School District
High school in town Killingly High School Derby High School None in town Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
9.7
—
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.