Compare towns

Killingly vs Sterling vs Ridgefield

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Ridgefield has the most expensive homes ($836k 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.

MeasureKillinglySterlingRidgefield
People
Population
17,867
3,629Lowest
25,109Highest
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
45.1±1.4Highest
10% above CT
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9
CT: 20.2%
24.8%±2.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
Ridgefield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.7%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and Ridgefield 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%
72.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Ridgefield 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
$179,219±$12kHighest
87% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$283,400±$17kLowest
23% below CT
$836,200±$26kHighest
128% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
—
$2,026±$200Highest
36% above CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
$10,000+Highest
at least 51% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
53.3%±12Highest
CT: 52.6%
Ridgefield 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%
3.5%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
83.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1972
5 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
33 min
25% above CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
29.7%±3.7Highest
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #4 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Ridgefield School District
High school in town Killingly High School None in town Ridgefield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
—
11.4Highest
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.