Compare towns
Willimantic vs Derby vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Vernon has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Willimantic | Derby | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,096 |
12,487Lowest |
30,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$85,356±$6kHighest 11% below CT |
| Vernon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$275,500±$11kHighest 25% below CT |
| Vernon and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
| Derby and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest 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 | 23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Vernon 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Derby School District | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | — | Derby High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.