Compare towns
Charlton vs Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Spencer
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%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Charlton | Killingly | Sturbridge | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,435 |
17,867Highest |
9,960Lowest |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Sturbridge 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Sturbridge 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% |
29.1% 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% |
5.2%±2.4 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±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$382,000±$22k 15% 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. |
$1,078±$161 24% 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. |
$4,387 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Killingly 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest 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. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older 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. |
34 min 30% 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% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Spencer 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 | #261 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 | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
9.9 |
| 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.