Compare towns

Brookfield vs Sterling vs Killingly

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldSterlingKillingly
People
Population
3,460Lowest
3,629
17,867Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
52.4±2.1Highest
35% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
13.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,250±$37kLowest
about the U.S. average
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$341,900±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,014±$161Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
$1,044±$141Highest
26% below U.S.
Killingly and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,092Highest
63% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield 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 #109 of 282 in MA #119 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT
School district Brookfield Sterling School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town None in town None in town Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.