Compare towns
Killingly vs Orange vs Derby 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).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Orange | Derby | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
14,315 |
12,487 |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Derby and Orange 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Derby 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #138 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 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | — | Derby High School | 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.