Compare towns
Windham vs Derby vs Killingly vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
West Haven has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Windham | Derby | Killingly | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,961 |
12,487Lowest |
17,867 |
55,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
35.8±1.5 13% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$74,382±$5k 22% below CT |
| Killingly and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$291,700±$9kHighest 20% below CT |
| West Haven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
| Derby and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,633 30% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
14.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby and Killingly 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #120 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | New Haven School District · West Haven School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Derby High School | Killingly High School | West Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
15.6Highest |
| 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.