Compare towns

Killingly vs Northbridge vs Sterling vs Upton

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 renters (29.5% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyNorthbridgeSterlingUpton
People
Population
17,867Highest
16,458
3,629Lowest
8,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Northbridge 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%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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%
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton 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%
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
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%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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±$19k
38% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Upton and Northbridge 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±$15k
35% above U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
—
$948±$599Lowest
33% 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.
$4,821
55% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Northbridge 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%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.
1981
1 yr 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.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Northbridge 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 #46 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Northbridge Sterling School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Killingly High School Northbridge High None in town Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
10.8Lowest
—
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.