Compare towns
Deerfield vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the most expensive homes ($415k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Dalton has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Deerfield | Killingly | Sterling | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Deerfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
— | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Deerfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield and Dalton 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Killingly High School | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.