Compare towns
Exeter vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Exeter | Killingly | Sterling | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
17,867Highest |
3,629 |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,166±$191 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | 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 |
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.