Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Derby vs Plainville
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).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Preston | Derby | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
12,487 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
| Derby and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Preston 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±$15k 21% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Derby and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Derby School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Derby High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 9.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.