Compare towns
Killingly vs Colebrook vs Sterling vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Colebrook | Sterling | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,629 |
9,292 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 21% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
— | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Colebrook and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Colebrook School District | Sterling School District | 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 |
CT 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.