Compare towns
Thomaston 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
Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492Lowest |
17,867Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| Derby and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
| Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
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.