Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Cumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
Cumberland has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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.
| Measure | Bristol | Killingly | Sterling | Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,220 |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
36,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$431,000±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
| Bristol and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cumberland 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 | #20 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #18 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Cumberland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.