Compare towns

Killingly vs Lancaster vs Putnam 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

Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureKillinglyLancasterPutnamSterling
People
Population
17,867Highest
8,606
9,292
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Putnam and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
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+
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lancaster 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Putnam 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.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Lancaster 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.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Killingly 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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #128 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Putnam School District Sterling School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Putnam High School None in town
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.