Compare towns
Killingly vs Derby vs Willimantic vs Plainfield
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 highest household income ($84k).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Willimantic | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867 |
12,487Lowest |
18,096Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Killingly and Derby 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±$21k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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 |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Derby 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Derby High School | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
| 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.