Compare towns
Charlton vs Killingly vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,435 |
17,867Highest |
9,452Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% 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 |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% 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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% 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% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8% 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% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
30 min 12% 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% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #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 | Sutton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Killingly High School | Sutton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1 |
12.6Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.