Compare towns
Plainville vs Killingly vs Bethany vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Plainville | Killingly | Bethany | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
17,867Highest |
5,288Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest 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 | 6.5% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Bethany 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.1 |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.