Compare towns

Smithfield vs Killingly vs Derby vs Lincoln

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Lincoln has the most kids (21.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureSmithfieldKillinglyDerbyLincoln
People
Population
22,233
17,867
12,487Lowest
22,864Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.6
7% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±3.1Highest
19% above U.S.
43.7±2.2
12% above U.S.
Derby and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lincoln and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
16.7%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,077±$8k
26% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$79,500±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
$104,821±$15kHighest
30% above U.S.
Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$446,400±$12k
34% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$256,700±$21kLowest
23% below U.S.
$450,600±$17kHighest
35% above U.S.
Lincoln and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,016±$241Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,452±$95
about the U.S. average
$1,468±$152Highest
4% above U.S.
Lincoln and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,207
67% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,510Highest
77% above U.S.
$4,751
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
53.9%±12.6
U.S.: 51.1%
40.4%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
61.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
14%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Derby and Smithfield 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 #8 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #21 of 38 in RI
School district Smithfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Derby School District Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town Smithfield High School Killingly High School Derby High School Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
11.1
9.7Lowest
14.7Highest
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.