Compare towns

Putnam vs Killingly vs Derby vs Woodstock

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Woodstock has the most expensive homes ($417k median).

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.

MeasurePutnamKillinglyDerbyWoodstock
People
Population
9,292
17,867Highest
12,487
8,319Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-4.5%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
43.7±3
6% above CT
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
46.4±3.1
13% above CT
49.3±5.9Highest
20% above CT
Woodstock and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19%±3.7
CT: 20.2%
Killingly and Woodstock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.1Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9
CT: 18.5%
22.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
Woodstock and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
35.6%
CT: 42.5%
47.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.1%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$112,011±$21kHighest
17% above CT
Woodstock and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$256,700±$21kLowest
30% below CT
$417,200±$22kHighest
14% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,149±$44
23% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,202±$94
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$5,510Highest
17% below CT
$5,357
19% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
22.2%±16Lowest
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
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
4.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
83.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1985Highest
18 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
31 minHighest
16% above CT
Work from home
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8Highest
CT: 16%
12.5%±4.5
CT: 16%
Derby and Woodstock 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 #128 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #85 of 149 in CT
School district Putnam School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Derby School District Woodstock School District · The Woodstock Academy District
High school in town Putnam High School Killingly High School Derby High School The Woodstock Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.1
9.7
16.2Highest
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.