Compare towns
Clinton vs Sterling vs Killingly vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the highest household income ($125k).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 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.
| Measure | Clinton | Sterling | Killingly | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,377 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867 |
20,361Highest |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 23% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.7±3 18% above CT |
| Clinton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Clinton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
44.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Berlin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,824±$14kHighest 30% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
| Clinton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $380,000±$14kHighest 4% above CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
| Clinton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$105 6% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,402±$88Highest 6% below CT |
| Berlin and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,151 7% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±14.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Berlin 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 | #81 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Clinton School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Berlin School District |
| High school in town | The Morgan School | None in town | Killingly High School | Berlin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.