Compare towns
Killingly vs Berlin vs Sterling vs Putnam
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Killingly | Berlin | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,378Lowest |
8,183 |
9,292 |
| 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. |
43.7±3 12% 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% |
18.6%±3.6 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below 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 | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Berlin-Boylston | Wachusett | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.