Compare towns

Killingly vs Ashburnham vs Sterling

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Ashburnham has the most people working from home (16%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).

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.

MeasureKillinglyAshburnhamSterling
People
Population
17,867Highest
6,415
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
40.7±6.3Highest
5% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ashburnham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
44%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ashburnham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$118,809±$11kHighest
47% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Ashburnham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$390,700±$34kHighest
17% above U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,807±$1kHighest
28% above U.S.
—
Ashburnham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,046Highest
94% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashburnham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 min
21% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±7.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashburnham 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 #136 of 149 in CT #178 of 282 in MA #119 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ashburnham-Westminster Sterling School District
High school 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

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.