Compare towns
Plainville vs Killingly vs Needham vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Needham | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
17,867 |
32,459Highest |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | #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 | — | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Killingly High School | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.