Compare towns
Douglas vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most expensive homes ($471k median).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Douglas | Killingly | Sterling | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Thompson 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 7.9 |
| 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.