Compare towns

Charlton vs Killingly vs Sturbridge

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

MeasureCharltonKillinglySturbridge
People
Population
13,435
17,867Highest
9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±4
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.7%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sturbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Charlton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,587±$8k
46% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$427,500±$19kHighest
28% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,381±$415Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,617
48% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
24% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge and Charlton 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 #133 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 282 in MA
School district Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School Killingly High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7
11.1Highest
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.