Compare towns
Winchester vs Killingly vs Sterling 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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Winchester | Killingly | Sterling | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Winchester and Derby 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%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Derby 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Sterling 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±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Winchester 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%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 |
1988Highest 21 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 |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Sterling 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 | #119 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 | Sterling School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 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.