Compare towns
Killingly vs Sterling vs Preston
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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
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 | Sterling | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston 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 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.