Compare towns
Killingly vs Sterling vs Gardner
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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867 |
8,183Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly 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% |
22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Sterling 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. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Sterling 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Gardner 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Wachusett | Gardner |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.