Compare towns

Killingly vs Putnam vs Sterling vs Ware

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).

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.

MeasureKillinglyPutnamSterlingWare
People
Population
17,867Highest
9,292
3,629Lowest
10,048
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
43.7±3Highest
12% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
Putnam and Ware 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%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±3.5
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%
18.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware 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%
20%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Ware 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.
$70,561±$7k
13% below U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
Sterling and Killingly 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.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
$289,700±$28kHighest
13% below U.S.
Ware and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44Highest
19% below U.S.
—
$1,043±$109Lowest
26% below U.S.
Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
$4,237
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware 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%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ware 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 #128 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #267 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District Sterling School District Ware
High school in town Killingly High School Putnam High School None in town Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
9.5Lowest
—
11.1Highest
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.