Compare towns

Killingly vs Winchester vs Sterling

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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).

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.

MeasureKillinglyWinchesterSterling
People
Population
17,867Highest
10,284
3,629Lowest
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
49.1±6.2Highest
19% above CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
15.4%±2.9Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
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%
27.4%±5.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
27.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Winchester 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
12% below CT
$66,519±$12kLowest
31% below CT
$102,695±$12kHighest
7% above CT
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±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$249,500±$17kLowest
32% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,174±$116Highest
21% below CT
—
Winchester 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
$4,780Highest
28% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
48.9%±15.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Winchester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
CT: 10%
12.8%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
65.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1955Lowest
12 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above CT
26 minLowest
about the CT average
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
6.9%±2.7Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Highest
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 #97 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Explorations District · Regional School District 07 Sterling School District
High school in town Killingly High School Northwestern Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
9.7Lowest
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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.