Compare towns

Boxford vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Harvard

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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.

MeasureBoxfordKillinglySterlingHarvard
People
Population
8,208
17,867Highest
3,629Lowest
6,927
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+5.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±3.6Highest
26% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.1±4.7
13% above U.S.
Boxford and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Boxford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.3%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Boxford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$200,871±$21k
149% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$213,996±$24kHighest
165% above U.S.
Harvard and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$907,000±$46kHighest
173% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
$833,600±$54k
151% above U.S.
Boxford and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$776±$13Lowest
45% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
—
$1,321±$424Highest
7% below U.S.
Harvard and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.2%±60.6
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72.5%±51.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Harvard and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
44.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #34 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #12 of 282 in MA
School district Boxford · Masconomet Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Harvard
High school in town Masconomet Regional High School Killingly High School None in town The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
11.1
—
11.0Lowest
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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.