Compare towns

Ashford vs Killingly vs Woonsocket vs Sterling

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).

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.

MeasureAshfordKillinglyWoonsocketSterling
People
Population
4,226
17,867
43,521Highest
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37.9±10.3
about the U.S. average
39.5±3Highest
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.9%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,926±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$334,800±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$311,000±$15k
7% below U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
Ashford and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,246±$208Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,161±$48
18% below U.S.
—
Ashford and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,982Highest
124% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$3,960
27% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashford and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashford 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 #90 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #37 of 38 in RI #119 of 149 in CT
School district Ashford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Sterling School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Woonsocket High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
15.2Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.