Compare towns
Plainville vs Killingly vs Princeton 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).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Princeton | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
17,867Highest |
3,529Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.4%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 |
46.1±7 19% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Derby and Princeton 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% |
22.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Princeton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Princeton 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% |
59.4%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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$158,750±$46kHighest 97% 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. |
$520,500±$48kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$897±$852Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,633Highest 113% 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% |
69.8%±46.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Princeton 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% |
4.2%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% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% 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% |
29.5%±6.8Highest 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 | #59 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 | Wachusett | 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 |
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.