Compare towns
Killingly vs Lisbon vs Sterling vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Lisbon | Sterling | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,211 |
3,629Lowest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon 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% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Lisbon 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 12% below CT |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
| Sterling and Thompson 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 |
$315,700±$26kHighest 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Lisbon and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Highest 30% below CT |
— | — | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Killingly and Thompson 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 |
$4,044 39% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Lisbon School District | Sterling School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.