Compare towns
Winchester vs Willimantic vs Colebrook vs Derby
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).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Willimantic | Colebrook | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,284 |
18,096Highest |
1,494Lowest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 49.1±6.2 19% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
| Colebrook and Winchester 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Colebrook 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Colebrook 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,519±$12k 31% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,500±$17k 32% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$116 21% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Derby and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,780 28% below CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 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 | 12.8% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 12 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1967Highest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Colebrook 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 | — | — | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — | Colebrook School District | Derby School District |
| High school in town | Northwestern Regional High School | — | None in town | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | — | 9.7 |
| 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.