Compare towns

Ware vs Killingly vs Derby

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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.

MeasureWareKillinglyDerby
People
Population
10,048Lowest
17,867Highest
12,487
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-4.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±3.1Highest
19% above U.S.
Derby and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Derby and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$79,500±$11k
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$289,700±$28kHighest
13% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$256,700±$21kLowest
23% below U.S.
Ware and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,452±$95Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237
36% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$5,510Highest
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.9%±12.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
61.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Derby and Ware 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 #267 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT
School district Ware Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Derby School District
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Killingly High School Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
11.1Highest
9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.