Compare towns

Lisbon vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Sterling

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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.

MeasureLisbonKillinglyPutnamSterling
People
Population
4,211
17,867Highest
9,292
3,629Lowest
Median age
44.5±5.2Highest
8% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
43.7±3
6% above CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
Lisbon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.1%±6.4
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.3%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Lisbon and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.2%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
20%
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,708±$12k
3% below CT
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$102,695±$12kHighest
7% above CT
Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,700±$26kHighest
14% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$269,200±$11kLowest
27% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Lisbon and Killingly 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
$1,149±$44Highest
23% below CT
—
Putnam and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,044
39% below CT
$3,922
41% below CT
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$4,551Highest
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±75.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Lisbon and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
11.5%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
59.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
8.3%±3.4Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
9%±2.8
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 #102 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Lisbon School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District Sterling School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Putnam High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
9.5Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.