Compare towns
Suffield vs Willimantic vs Derby
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 expensive homes ($408k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Willimantic | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,702 |
18,096Highest |
12,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| Derby and Suffield 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Suffield 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 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 |
| School district | Suffield School District | — | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Suffield High School | — | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.