Compare towns
Berlin vs Killingly vs Putnam 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
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Berlin | Killingly | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.