Compare towns
Winchester vs Killingly vs Beacon Falls vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Winchester | Killingly | Beacon Falls | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
17,867Highest |
6,147Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Winchester and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 16 | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Killingly High School | Woodland Regional High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
11.2Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.