Compare towns

Windham vs Suffield vs Derby vs New London

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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
New London has the most renters (63.9% 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.

MeasureWindhamSuffieldDerbyNew London
People
Population
23,961
15,702
12,487Lowest
27,625Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-4.5%Lowest
CT: +0.9%
-0.9%Highest
CT: +0.9%
Median age
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
46.4±3.1Highest
13% above CT
34.7±2.1
16% below CT
Derby and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
14.6%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
16.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
Windham and New London 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%
18.4%±2.2
CT: 18.5%
21.1%±3.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
15%±1.8
CT: 18.5%
Derby and Suffield 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%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.6%
CT: 42.5%
28.5%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±2
CT: 7.1%
13.3%±1.6
CT: 7.1%
Windham and New London 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
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$79,500±$11k
17% below CT
$59,098±$5k
38% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$209,800±$9kLowest
43% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$256,700±$21k
30% below CT
$253,300±$23k
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
$1,424±$141
4% below CT
$1,452±$95Highest
about the CT average
$1,340±$51
10% below CT
Derby and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,633Lowest
30% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$5,510
17% below CT
$4,977
25% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.9%±12.6
CT: 52.6%
53.2%±5.3
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%
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.8%
CT: 10%
21.6%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
61.9%
CT: 66.5%
36.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1967
same as CT
1945Lowest
22 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below CT
26 min
3% below CT
27 minHighest
about the CT average
19 minLowest
28% below CT
Work from home
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
15.1%±4.8
CT: 16%
11.6%±2.3
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 #143 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT #138 of 149 in CT #147 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Suffield School District Derby School District Interdistrict School for Arts and Comm District · New London School District
High school in town Windham High School Suffield High School Derby High School New London High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
10.9
9.7Lowest
13.6Highest
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.