Compare towns
Columbia vs Sterling vs Killingly vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Andover has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Columbia | Sterling | Killingly | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
3,629 |
17,867Highest |
3,152Lowest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
51.2±5.4 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±4.4 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+ | 24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
46.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30k 33% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16k about the CT average |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
| Andover and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,166±$745Highest 22% below CT |
| Andover and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,554Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.5%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Andover 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #43 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.