Compare towns
Suffield vs Derby vs Willimantic vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k 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.
| Measure | Suffield | Derby | Willimantic | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,702 |
12,487Lowest |
18,096Highest |
12,991 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
45.2±5.7 10% above CT |
| Derby and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.3%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Oxford and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.9%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Oxford and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
46.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$128,953±$23kHighest 35% above CT |
| Oxford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,415±$87 5% below CT |
| Derby and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,442 3% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1986Highest 19 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
30 minHighest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Derby 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | — | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Suffield School District | Derby School District | — | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | Derby High School | — | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | 10.1 |
| 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.