Compare towns

Foster vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Richmond

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Richmond has the highest household income ($125k).

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.

MeasureFosterKillinglySterlingRichmond
People
Population
4,523
17,867Highest
3,629Lowest
8,142
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3Highest
21% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.7±4.1
10% above U.S.
Foster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
22%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Richmond and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,646±$18k
41% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$124,653±$27kHighest
54% above U.S.
Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,300±$30k
28% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
$435,800±$22kHighest
31% above U.S.
Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,509±$556
7% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
$1,580±$777Highest
12% above U.S.
Richmond and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$6,362
104% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±42.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Foster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
26% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
34 min
29% above U.S.
Work from home
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Foster 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 #22 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #16 of 38 in RI
School district Foster Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Chariho
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town Chariho High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
—
12.7Highest
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.