Compare towns

Killingly vs Berlin 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 most affordable homes ($289k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyBerlinSterling
People
Population
17,867Highest
3,378Lowest
8,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
49.7±2.8
28% above U.S.
51.5±1.8Highest
32% above U.S.
Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Sterling 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.
$121,336±$12k
50% above U.S.
$129,063±$27kHighest
60% above U.S.
Sterling and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$498,800±$48k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,699±$161
20% above U.S.
Berlin and Sterling 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.
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$6,757
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Sterling 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%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
34 min
29% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Berlin 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 #61 of 282 in MA #135 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Berlin-Boylston Wachusett
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.