Compare towns
Foster vs Needham vs Sterling vs Killingly
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 homeowners (91.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% 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 | Foster | Needham | Sterling | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,523 |
32,459Highest |
3,629Lowest |
17,867 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Sterling 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Needham | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.