Compare towns

Killingly vs Northbridge 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyNorthbridgeSterling
People
Population
17,867Highest
16,458
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.8±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Northbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Northbridge 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%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Northbridge 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.
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Northbridge 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.
$448,600±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
—
Northbridge and Killingly 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.
$4,821Highest
55% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Killingly 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%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Northbridge 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 #226 of 282 in MA #119 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Northbridge Sterling School District
High school in town Killingly High School Northbridge High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.8Lowest
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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.