Compare towns
Hatfield vs Sterling vs Killingly vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Hatfield | Sterling | Killingly | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
3,629 |
17,867Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 20% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 23.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 58% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Hatfield 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.