Compare towns
Killingly vs Preston vs Sturbridge
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 most affordable homes ($289k median).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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.
| Measure | Killingly | Preston | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Preston 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. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Preston and Sturbridge 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. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Preston School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.