Compare towns

Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Topsfield

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).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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.

MeasureKillinglySturbridgeTopsfield
People
Population
17,867Highest
9,960
6,564Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
42.2±1.8
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
24.8%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Topsfield and Sturbridge 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%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Topsfield 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%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
71.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Sturbridge 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.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
$195,718±$16kHighest
142% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$853,400±$40kHighest
157% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,115±$538
21% below U.S.
Sturbridge and Topsfield 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.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly and Sturbridge 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
29.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Topsfield and Sturbridge 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 #89 of 282 in MA #172 of 282 in MA
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sturbridge · Tantasqua Topsfield
High school in town Killingly High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
7.7Lowest
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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.