Compare towns
Lisbon vs Thomaston vs Killingly 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%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Lisbon | Thomaston | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
7,492 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Highest 8% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Lisbon and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 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% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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 |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Thomaston and Sterling 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 |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% 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 | — | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141Highest 30% below CT |
— |
| Killingly and Thomaston 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.