Compare towns
Plainville vs Windham vs Killingly 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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
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 | Windham | Killingly | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
23,961Highest |
17,867 |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below 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% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Killingly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Killingly and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #136 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Windham High School | Killingly High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.8 |
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.